Kofi Inkoom
Marcus Smart and Desmond Bane joined forces to accumulate a total of 44 points, securing a victory for the Memphis Grizzlies, marking their second win of the season.
What a play from Marcus Smart 🧠 pic.twitter.com/eoed8i36hc
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 12, 2023
They triumphed over the struggling Los Angeles Clippers with a final score of 105-101 on a Sunday.
Memphis, currently at a 2-8 record, eagerly awaits the return of their All-Star guard, Ja Morant, who is due to come back from a 25-game suspension next month. Notably, both of their victories this season have been achieved on the road.
Grizzlies’ coach, Taylor Jenkins, expressed his satisfaction, stating, “Our guys were pretty dialed in….We tried to make it extremely tough on these guys and the defense set the tone.”
Luke Kennard, coming off the bench against his former team, made a significant impact by sinking four 3-pointers and contributing 13 points.
The Grizzlies, as a team, managed to convert 13 three-pointers, while the Clippers made seven out of their 12 attempts in the fourth quarter.
Paul George led the Clippers in scoring with 26 points, closely followed by Norman Powell with 20, and Russell Westbrook, who marked his 35th birthday, adding 12 points, nine rebounds, and five assists.
PG-13 FOR 3️⃣‼️@LAClippers | #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/4TPmPDqOmk
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) November 12, 2023
Unfortunately for the Clippers, this effort was not enough as they suffered their fifth consecutive loss, breaking their previous home winning streak of four games.
On the Clippers’ side, James Harden contributed 11 points, albeit coming off the bench.
He notably tied the game with a clutch 3-pointer with 1:33 remaining but narrowly missed another in the closing moments.
The Clippers are yet to secure a victory in the four games played since acquiring Harden through a trade earlier this month.
Despite being outscored 33-26 in the fourth quarter, the Grizzlies managed to secure the win by successfully converting 6 of 8 free throws in the final minutes.
They also initiated a crucial seven-point run at the start of the third quarter, building a 14-point lead, which the Clippers struggled to overcome.
Paul George showcased his dominance during a pivotal 20-3 run in the second quarter.
He contributed 12 points, including six consecutive points, and Terance Mann’s 3-pointer provided the Clippers with a short-lived lead of 39-36 – their first lead of the game.
Nevertheless, Memphis responded with a 16-6 surge to reclaim a 52-45 lead at halftime.
The Grizzlies demonstrated their prowess early in the game, sinking seven 3-pointers and establishing a commanding 13-point lead in the first quarter, leaving the Clippers to trail throughout the contest.
Next on the road, the Grizzlies will remain in town as they prepare to face the Lakers on Tuesday night, marking their second game in the In-Season Tournament.