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Luke Kennard scores season-high 25 points, Grizzlies beat Nets 106-102 to end 5-game skid – Winnipeg Free Press

Game RecapBy No Comments3 Mins Read
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NEW YORK (AP) — Luke Kennard scored a season-high 25 points and the Memphis Grizzlies ended a five-game losing streak by beating the Brooklyn Nets 106-102 on Monday night.

Jake LaRavia added 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who overwhelmed the Nets 51-33 and racked up 25 second-chance points to make up for all the offense they’re missing due to injuries. Lamar Stevens scored 13 points.

The Nets won 111-86 at Memphis on Feb. 26, allowing the fewest points this season for their first victory under interim coach Kevin Ollie. They weren’t as good defensively and were much worse offensively, adding to their woes with a dismal 17 of 30 (56.7%) on free throws.


Dennis Schroder of the Brooklyn Nets drives past John Konchar (46) of the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 4, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Dennis Schroder of the Brooklyn Nets drives past John Konchar (46) of the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 4, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Nic Claxton had 21 points for the Nets, who were coming off back-to-back wins over Atlanta that allowed them to move within two games of the Hawks for 10th place in the Eastern Conference and the final spot in the play-in tournament. But leading scorer Mikal Bridges, who had 38 points in Saturday’s win, was 4 of 14 on Monday and had just 14 points.

The game was tied at 88 before Stevens got the next two baskets, and a Kennard basket made the score 94-88. Claxton ended Brooklyn’s drought, but Vince Williams Jr. scored and Kennard made his sixth 3-pointer for a 99-90 lead with three minutes remaining.

Kennard finished 8 of 11 overall and 6 of 9 from behind the arc.

The Nets played without Cam Thomas because of foot and ankle injuries, and without Ben Simmons, who was sidelined because of a pinched nerve in his lower back, the same injury that sidelined him. gap for 35 games earlier this season.

That’s nothing compared to the Grizzlies’ injuries, with Memphis missing Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart on Monday.

But they led 53-52 at halftime and extended that score to 71-63 on Kennard’s 3-point basket midway through the third. Brooklyn used a 9-0 run to turn a seven-point deficit into a 77-75 advantage, but Memphis got the final five points of the period to lead 80-77 heading into the fourth.