Luke Kennard came off the bench to score a career-high-tying 30 points and Ja Morant added 28 and seven assists to lead the Memphis Grizzlies past the visiting Utah Jazz, 122-115, Wednesday night.
Kennard made 11-of-14 shots, including 7-of-9 from beyond the arc.
Kennard and Morant made key 3-pointers in the final minute to give the Grizzlies their fourth straight win. Utah lost its seventh straight.
Desmond Bane chipped in 17 points, nine assists and five rebounds for Memphis, which improved to 24-10 at home.
Utah got 22 points apiece from John Collins and Collin Sexton. Lauri Markkanen finished with 14 points and Walker Kessler added 14 boards.
The Grizzlies had to hold off a determined Jazz squad in the closing minutes.
Two free throws by Collins gave the Jazz a 111-110 lead with 3:04 left. But Kennard answered for the Grizzlies with a corner 3-pointer. Fouled on the play by Sexton, Kennard converted the free throw for a four-point play.
A putback by Sexton with 1:16 to go gave the Jazz their last lead at 115-114. Kennard’s final 3-pointer came with 55 seconds left and Morant followed with his last 3-pointer with 12.4 seconds to go for a 120-115 lead.
The Jazz grabbed their first lead since midway through the opening quarter on a driving layup by Brice Sensabaugh with 3:41 to go. Sensabaugh’s basket gave Utah a 109-107 advantage that Morant quickly erased with a corner trey 18 seconds later.
Utah erased a 19-point first-half deficit with a 36-point third quarter. The Jazz trailed by 14 early in the third before mounting their comeback.
A 24-10 run allowed the Jazz to tie the game at 85 with 1:19 to go in the quarter. Consecutive 3-pointers by Jordan Clarkson and another by Markkanen closed the run.
The Jazz played for the second straight game without Keyonte George, who is averaging 16.8 points. He is sidelined with a left foot contusion.
The Grizzlies have been without All-Star forward Jaren Jackson Jr. since he suffered a left ankle injury Feb. 3 against Atlanta.
Memphis led 64-50 at the half behind Kennard, who had 13 second-quarter points.
–Field Level Media
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