In their FedExForum season finale on Tuesday, the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 119-109, sealing the best home record in the NBA for the first time in franchise history.
Memphis had a record 35 wins at home, the most by any NBA club since the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors went 36-5. The Grizzlies set a new benchmark for home victories and home winning percentage for the organization (.854). It is also the sixth 50-win season in team history, and the second in a row, with a record of 50-29 with three regular-season games remaining.
“They are not frequent throughout the NBA – not many teams get 50 (wins) in a season,” said Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins on the team’s back-to-back 50 win seasons. “Proud of our group – still got three more (games) to focus on, but anytime you can clip that 50-win mark, that’s pretty special.”
Desmond Bane led Memphis with 30 points, seven rebounds, and five assists 5-of-12 from beyond the arc.
Ja Morant tallied 23 points, nine assists, six rebounds and more highlight dunks to his resume.
Luke Kennard chipped in 20 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals while shooting 6-of-10 from three.
After the game, Kennard spoke about how he feels about playing alongside Bane and Morant.
He said, “Me and [Desmond Bane] out there is just going to open it up for Ja [Morant] to do his thing. It’s my job to be out there and be ready to shoot because the ball is going to find me. There’s still some things we can clean up here and there. Trusting each other, trusting the pass, and making the right play. We’re confident in what each other can do, just continuing to gel together and me continuing to be with them more to continue to grow, and hopefully it helps us out in the long run.”
“It’s great — I feel the love from everybody in the crowd every time I touch the ball,” Kennard said about the “Luke” chants. “It’s definitely something that just makes me feel good being out there, knowing the crowd has faith in what I do and what I can bring. I just want to continue to grow here and give the fans what they want. It’s been really cool.”
Jaren Jackson, Jr. added 17 points, seven rebounds and two assists while
David Roddy chipped in 16 points off the bench.
Jenkins was emphatic about his belief that Jackson, Jr. should be Defensive Player of the Year. “He’s making improvements but you can see it when he’s on the floor. I’ve obviously been asked about the impact he’s made, his net rating is like number one in the league,” Jenkins said. “Defensive Player of the Year, it’s a no brainer, in my opinion. You see what we do when he’s on the floor and off the floor. His ability to be on the floor and be available for us and be that impact player and not just defensively but offensively. You see what he’s done offensively during this last month and a half. It’s powerful. But when he sets a tone as a Defensive Player of the Year guy and then can back it up with offensive play this is the special two-way player, we talk about all the time.”
Up Next
The Grizzlies head to New Orleans to take on the Pelicans tonight at 7 p.m. CT.
