Norman Powell showcased his scoring prowess by dropping 29 points, four of which came in the crucial final 25 seconds, propelling the Los Angeles Clippers to a hard-fought 114-110 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.
In a nail-biting finish with the game knotted at 110, Powell calmly sank a 14-foot jumper with just 25 seconds remaining, before coolly knocking down two free throws to secure the win for the Clippers, marking their third victory in the last four outings. James Harden played a pivotal role, contributing 21 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds, while Ivica Zubac delivered an impressive performance with 20 points and a season-high 20 rebounds.
Leading the charge for Memphis was Jaren Jackson Jr., who poured in 24 points, closely followed by Ja Morant with 23 points. Desmond Bane also made a notable impact with 21 points and seven assists.
Throughout the contest, the game remained tightly contested, characterized by 13 lead changes and nine deadlocks as the teams battled fiercely.
Key Takeaways:
Clippers: The team effectively fended off Memphis until Powell’s decisive late-game heroics, supported by Harden’s valuable contributions in the final quarter.
Grizzlies: Despite a spirited effort, the Grizzlies’ 19 turnovers proved costly, resulting in 31 points for Los Angeles.
Key Moment:
A pivotal moment occurred early in the third quarter as the Grizzlies mounted a rapid offensive with Jaylen Wells spearheading the charge. Finding Morant near the top of the key, the 6-foot-2 star fearlessly attacked Zubac at the rim. With a sudden spin reminiscent of a cyclone, Morant acrobatically flipped the ball over his head from the left side, banking it in for a spectacular score.
Key Stat:
Although Memphis leads the NBA with an average of 58.7 points in the paint per game, they were limited to just 42 points in this matchup. Additionally, the Grizzlies fell 13 points below their league-leading scoring average.
