NBA Game Notes (March 24, 2023)

Here are the NBA game notes for games that were played on March 24, 2023.

Kennard Rockets Into History

Luke Kennard scored a game-high 30 points — all on a franchise-record 10 3-pointers made — as the Memphis Grizzlies mauled the Houston Rockets 151-114. With the win, the Grizzlies clinched their second straight Southwest Division title.

Kennard made 10 of his 11 attempts from 3-point range, tying Ty Lawson (April 9, 2011) and Klay Thompson (Jan 21, 2019) for the highest 3-point field goal percentage in NBA history by a player with at least 10 3-pointers made in a game.

Kennard is just the second player in NBA history to record a 30-point game without making a 2-pointer or free throw, joining Malik Beasley (March 9, 2022). In fact, neither Kennard nor Beasley even attempted a 2-pointer or free throw.

Kennard logged just 24 minutes of action, the fewest minutes played in NBA history by a player with at least 10 3-pointers made in a game:

• 24 — Luke Kennard (March 24, 2023)

• 26 — Stephen Curry (Dec. 30, 2017)

• 27 — Klay Thompson (Oct. 29, 2018)

• 27 — Klay Thompson (Jan. 21, 2019)

Finally, Kennard recorded the highest effective field goal percentage in NBA history by a player in a 30-point game, breaking a record that was all of four days old:

• 136.4% — Luke Kennard (March 24, 2023)

• 123.1% — Taurean Price (March 20, 2023)

• 122.7% — Tobias Harris (Dec. 26, 2017)

• 122.7% — Davis Bertans (Feb. 17, 2021)

The Grizzlies’ Desmond Bane scored 25 points on 10-13 shooting from the field, including 5-7 from 3-point range. Kennard and Bane are just the second teammates in NBA history to each score at least 25 points with an effective field goal percentage of 95% in the same game, joining Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka (Jan. 31, 2014).

Memphis’ Ja Morant came off the bench for the second straight game, scoring 18 points on 8-12 shooting from the field. He also dished out a team-high eight assists in just 19 minutes played.