Bane, Kennard help Grizzlies rally to beat Clippers 108-94

MEMPHIS,Tenn. (AP) — Desmond Bane scored 22 points and Luke Kennard had 17as the Memphis Grizzlies overcame a 20-point first-half deficit andbeat the Los Angeles Clippers 108-94 on Friday night.

Kennard keyeda second-quarter rally with four 3-pointers and finished the gamewith five against his former team. Kennard was traded to Memphis onFeb. 9 as part of a three-team deal.

The Grizzlieseventually built a 22-point lead early in the fourth quarterfollowing Bane’s steal under the Clippers’ basket and a drivinglayup.

Memphis coachTaylor Jenkins said the key to the team’s comeback was the abilityto make a 7-0 run during the final minutes of the openingquarter.

“We got alittle spark there,” Jenkins said. “I just started telling the guyswe’re starting to feel the pace (better) and the physicality andurgency that we need ... if we hadn’t had that spark at the end ofthe first quarter to cut it to 13, it may have been a differenceoutcome.”

Norman Powellscored 16 points to lead the Clippers, Ivica Zubac had 15 pointsand 15 rebounds, and Eric Gordon finished with 13 points.

“We knew theywere going to make a run, we just didn’t know it was going to bethat fast,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “We put ourselves ingood position (to win), we just didn’t do a good job finishing thegame, taking care of the basketball, taking good shots and gettingdefensive stops.”

Memphis andLos Angeles were playing for the second time in three days inMemphis. The Clippers won 141-132 on Wednesday to snap theGrizzlies’ 12-game home win streak. Russell Westbrook had 36 pointsin the Clippers’ victory but was held to just four points and agame-high 11 assists in this one.

InWednesday’s loss, the Grizzlies played without starters JarenJackson Jr. and Bane, along with key reserves Tyus Jones and JohnKonchar. All were out with various ailments.

Kawhi Leonardmissed Wednesday’s game for the Clippers and returned Friday toplay 18 minutes. He scored 12 points.

After takingtheir first lead midway through the second quarter on Jones’floater to go up 40-38, the Grizzlies never trailed again.

The Grizzlesstarted slowly and fell behind 34-14 late in the first quarter.Memphis was hampered by eight first-quarter turnovers.

However, theGrizzlies recovered behind Kennard’s 3-point shooting in the secondquarter during a 24-4 run to tie the score at 38-all. Memphiseventually built a 52-45 lead late in the quarter and led 55-51 atthe half.

“We justchipped away a little at a time with the group that came in(during) the second quarter,” Kennard said. “We really locked in,played really good defense, started moving the ball really well andgot out in transition, which was a big key for us.” Kennard had 14first-half points for the Grizzlies, who followed a sloppy firstquarter by committing only one turnover in the second.

Ja Morantstruggled in the first half and had only 3 points at the break. Hefinished with 10 points in 26 minutes.

“Our benchcame in and stepped up big-time for us,” Morant said. “It wassomething we needed after a loss (to the Clippers on Wednesday “Wehave all the confidence in the world (Kennard) can knock down hisshots. He could shoot (with the Clippers) and he can shoot now. Butnow he’s on our side.”

TIP-INS

Clippers: TheClippers were held to fewer than 100 points for only the third timein their past 38 games. ... Since Jan. 6, the Clippers are sixth inthe NBA in offensive rating (118.6) and first in 3-point percentage(39.8).

Grizzlies:Kenneth Lofton Jr. was named NBA G-League Rookie of the Year onFriday. He averaged 20.2 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists in17 appearances for Memphis. ... Jackson broke his single-seasonfranchise record of 177 blocks Friday with a third-quarter block ofNorman Powell. Jackson entered the game averaging 3.05 blocks pergame, which leads the NBA.

UPNEXT

Clippers:Host New Orleans on Saturday.

Grizzlies:Host Chicago on Sunday.