Yes Morant, Grizzlies react to record-breaking performance against Raptors

With less than two minutes left, Luke Kennard was at the free throw line in Thursday’s game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Toronto Raptors.

It was an overwhelming game with the outcome all but decided, but Kennard noticed an elated fan roaring after he sank his first free throw. This fan was aware of the story.

Kennard’s two free throws gave the Grizzlies a new franchise record for points scored in a game. Memphis defeated the Raptors 155-126 at FedExForum.

“I just knew there was some kind of record based on those free throws,” Kennard said. “I’m glad I did it. . . . It’s pretty cool.”

Zach Edey, who was lying on the floor while Kennard shot free throws, also heard the fan’s screams.

Edey was one of the key players contributing to a stat-filling night for Memphis. He finished the game with a team-high 21 points and 16 rebounds.

Jaren Jackson Jr. also scored 21 points and added 11 rebounds. Eight Grizzlies scored in double figures, including seven of those players who totaled at least 15 points.

Grizzlies players react to record night

Six current Grizzlies players were on the team when Memphis set the franchise record of 152 points. This was achieved in December 2021 with a win against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Ja Morant was injured during the game and did not play, but he finished Thursday’s game with 15 points and nine assists in 24 minutes.

Pushing the tempo is an essential part of the Grizzlies’ offense, and no one has the job of making sure that happens more than Morant. Even for him, it was a different feeling to play in this offensive explosion.

“Honestly, it’s crazy to me,” Morant said.

Desmond Bane and Brandon Clarke were two of the players active in the 2021 game against the Thunder. Every player scored in double figures against Toronto.

As fun as Thursday was, Bane wasn’t ready to say he surpassed the NBA-record-setting 79-point blowout against OKC.

“It was a party out there,” Bane said, recalling the performance against the Thunder.

It was fun.

“It’s always a pleasure to play here with this team,” said Clarke. “Our team is really good and we always find ways to shoot the ball. Our team is just really good.”

The Grizzlies’ performance wasn’t your typical offensive night where a team or player catches fire. Nobody in Memphis scored more than 21 points. The Grizzlies made 18 3-pointers on 40% shooting, which is great, but not even their best performance last week.

That didn’t go unnoticed. For Scotty Pippen Jr., this wasn’t even the Grizzlies’ best offense.

“I feel like we would have scored more goals,” Pippen said. “During the course of the game we missed a lot of shots that we could have made. I didn’t even feel like we played to our full potential and we still scored 155 points, so that’s kind of crazy.”

Jaylen Wells and Luke Kennard agreed. The offensive flow felt “normal,” Wells said.

There’s a larger underlying development to this answer – one that centers on the fact that Memphis places an emphasis on picking up the tempo and playing at warp speed.

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