Key Player Suffers Injury in Lakers vs. Grizzlies Game 5

Fighting over a screen in the fourth quarter of Game 5 vs. the Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies guard Luke Kennard collided with LeBron James, and suffered a shoulder injury that held him out the remainder of the game. Kennard's spacing was vital to the major run Memphis went on in the second half, and his absence was felt as the team was forced to finish the game without him.

While Memphis held on to get the victory, the Grizzlies finished the game +26 in Kennard's minutes, and -9 in the minutes he sat. With Dillon Brooks struggling to shoot the basketball, despite the Lakers leaving him wide open, the Grizzlies subbed Kennard in his place early in the 3rd quarter, which helped turn the game around. With his gravity, Kennard not only offers elite shooting, but he allows Ja Morant to operate with much more space as well.

The Grizzlies confirmed it is a left shoulder injury for Kennard, which is his shooting arm. The team has not given an official update beyond that, as Grizzlies fans will now have to hope the injury is nothing that jeopardizes his status for Game 6. As was evident in this win, Kennard is key to the Grizzlies' success in this series.

Forcing a Game 6 in Los Angeles, the Grizzlies will look to send this series back to Memphis for a deciding Game 7.

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