For the first time in his career, Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley went for 40 points. Even with a trip to the locker room sprinkled in between, Conley managed to drop a career-high 40 points during Tuesday's 120-111 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, shooting 12-for-18 from the field overall, including 6-for-7 from deep.
For Conley, it supersedes his previous career high of 38 points scored on Jan. 30, 2017, against the Phoenix Suns. The 12-year veteran missed his squad's previous contest Monday, taking the time off to collect his game and dominate the Blazers on Tuesday.
Following his scoring outburst, Conley sits at 20.4 points per game as his season average, leaving him within a puncher's chance of setting a new career high this year in PPG. His previous single-season best came back in 2016-17 when he averaged 20.5 points on a nightly basis.
Conley is the lone remaining Memphis stalwart of an era gone by. Following Marc Gasol's trade to the Toronto Raptors at the Trade Deadline, Conley has been tabbed as the man to lead the Grizzlies into their next rise. Despite swirling trade winds around his own name, Conley remains with the franchise, at least through the remainder of 2018-19, where he has been for all 12 years of his professional career.
Next on the docket is a meeting with the Utah Jazz, whom Conley has bested for more than 20 points in each of this season's two prior meetings. It took him 780 games to reach the 40-point plateau once; how long will it take for him to hit the esteemed mark again?
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