The Memphis Grizzlies are facing a win-or-go-home game on Friday against the Los Angeles Lakers in LA, and the latest update on Luke Kennard will worry Memphis fans, per Tim MacMahon.
“Grizzlies rule out Luke Kennard for Game 6.”
The Grizz need all hands on deck to stay alive in the series. Memphis enters play trailing the Lakers 3-2, and winning on the road in Los Angeles will prove to be a difficult task.
Kennard isn't a make-or-break player, but his strong shooting gives Memphis an advantage against the Lakers. Los Angeles has performed well during the series, but the Grizzlies can out-shoot them with players like Kennard on the floor.
Kennard, who was acquired by Memphis from the Los Angeles Clippers prior to the trade deadline, averaged 11.3 points per game with the Grizzlies. He was extremely efficient from beyond the arc through 24 regular season games in Memphis.
Overall, the Grizzlies and Lakers aren't great three-point shooting teams. LA ranks 24th in three-point percentage, while the Grizzlies are 22nd. However, that only strengthens the case for Luke Kennard's value to the Grizzlies. If Memphis can consistently find the bottom of the net from three-point land, the Lakers likely won't be able to match their production.
Memphis will need the rest of the rotation to step up from a shooting standpoint and hit some threes because, after all, Kennard is one of their top snipers from long range. If they can force a Game 7, they will have a chance to close things out at home.