Scottie Barnes (C) of Toronto Raptors goes for a lay-up during the 2023-2024 NBA regular season match between Memphis Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors in Toronto, Canada, on Jan. 22, 2024. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua)
TORONTO, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Memphis Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr. scored a team-high 27 points and snatched a career-high six steals in his team's 108-100 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Monday night.
Jackson Jr. recorded all of his steals in the first quarter, tying Robert Covington's NBA record for most steals in a quarter accomplished in Nov. 2015.
Sharpshooter Luke Kennard also had a standout performance with season-highs of 19 points and seven assists and tied his season-best with five 3-pointers to help Memphis snap a two-game losing streak.
"This was a great overall effort, it was great to see Luke catch fire," said Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins after the win. "Impressive by our guys to just keep battling."
Memphis was without starters Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart, who averaged a combined 64.0 points per game.
Morant, the franchise's two-time All-Star guard, had an unfortunate end to his season as he required shoulder surgery just nine games after rejoining the team from a suspension that forced him to miss the first 25 games.
Bane, who is averaging a career-best 24.4 points per game, sustained a left ankle sprain and will be re-evaluated in six weeks.
Smart, the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year who was acquired from the Boston Celtics in an offseason trade, injured his right finger on Jan. 11 and is expected to be sidelined for six weeks.
The offensive focus has shifted to 24-year-old Jackson Jr. with his teammates out of action. The fourth overall pick from the 2018 draft has career-highs in points (21.8), minutes (31.5), field goal attempts (16.3), and field goals made (7.5).
Since Dec. 2, 2023, Jackson Jr. has averaged 24.3 points a game and has scored in double figures in all 23 games, including a career-high 44 points in a losing effort against the Houston Rockets on Dec. 13.
"He was phenomenal, his activity being smart on the ball and off the ball," Jenkins complimented his big man. "His defensive presence was definitely impactful." ■
Scottie Barnes (R) of Toronto Raptors goes for a lay-up during the 2023-2024 NBA regular season match between Memphis Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors in Toronto, Canada, on Jan. 22, 2024. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua)
Vince Williams Jr. (2nd R) of Memphis Grizzlie goes for a lay-up during the 2023-2024 NBA regular season match between Memphis Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors in Toronto, Canada, on Jan. 22, 2024. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua)
Jaren Jackson Jr. (L) of Memphis Grizzlies dunks during the 2023-2024 NBA regular season match between Memphis Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors in Toronto, Canada, on Jan. 22, 2024. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua)
RJ Barrett (2nd R) of Toronto Raptors goes for a lay-up during the 2023-2024 NBA regular season match between Memphis Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors in Toronto, Canada, on Jan. 22, 2024. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua)
Gary Trent Jr. (C) of Toronto Raptors goes for a lay-up during the 2023-2024 NBA regular season match between Memphis Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors in Toronto, Canada, on Jan. 22, 2024. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua)