Lakers Injury Report: Grizzlies May Be Without NBA's Best Three-Point Shooter In Game 6
During last night's 116-99 blowout of your Los Angeles Lakers last night, the Memphis Grizzlies lost not just their own best long range shooter, but also the best three-point sniper in the league for two years running.
After playing just 17 minutes, bench swingman Luke Kennard exited the game with a left shoulder injury when he got caught on a pick. Kennard went +26 in those minutes.
He returned to the team's bench wearing a wrap and an ice pack around his left shoulder. Although Memphis officially listed him as being "doubtful" to return to the floor for the team, he never had to, after the Grizzlies ran away with the game late in the third quarter.
"I just got a stinger out there," Kennard remarked following the contest on Wednesday, per Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. "Getting it looked at tomorrow, trying to find out a little more, but it's all good right now... "I'll do whatever I can to try and get it right for Friday."
Memphis head coach Taylor Jenkins described Kennard's status for a win-or-go-home Game 6 as "TBD," according to Parker Fleming of Grizzly Bear Blues.
Through 21.3 minutes a game off the bench in the Grizzlies' series against your Los Angeles Lakers, Kennard has been averaging 7.2 points on .522/.500/1.000 shooting splits, 4.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.8 steals. That 50% three-point mark is arriving on 3.2 long range tries a night. Through the last two regular seasons, the 6'5" swingman out of Duke has been connecting on 46.7% of his 5.4 triples per game.
He may not be a starter, but losing Kennard's shooting would represent just the latest in a long line of rotten postseason injury luck for the Grizzlies. Memphis has not been able to play starting center Steven Adams (right knee PCL sprain) or backup big man Brandon Clarke (left Achilles tear) at all during the playoffs, as both players are out for the season with their respective ailments. All-Star point guard Ja Morant missed Game 2, which Memphis won anyway, due to an aggravated right hand bone bruise.
The Lakers, meanwhile, may be a bit banged up themselves, but everyone is at least able to play through their injuries. If we're being honest, their health advantage is probably why they're leading this series 3-2.
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