Desmond Bane has 30 points, Grizzlies rout Pacers for playoff spot

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Desmond Bane scored 30 points, hitting 12 of 15 shots, and the Memphis Grizzlies built a big lead early before coasting to a 133-103 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night to clinch a spot in the playoffs.

Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 20 points, going 7 of 13 from the field, as the Grizzlies shot 54%. De’Anthony Melton added 19 and John Konchar matched his career high with 18. Bane was 5 of 7 from outside the arc as Memphis made a season-high 21 3-pointers.

"It just kind of goes," Bane said of his shooting. "I made my first couple and then found a couple of openings for easy shots, and just kept hooping."

Before the game, Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins announced that leading scorer Ja Morant would miss the next two weeks with right knee soreness. Morant sat out the previous two games after tweaking the knee in Memphis’ loss to Atlanta last Friday.

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Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (22) drives ahead of Indiana Pacers center Goga Bitadze (88) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 24, 2022, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Jenkins noted that what was recently a tight rotation has expanded to include other players.

"Unfortunately, with a couple of guys nicked up, it creates some of these opportunities," the Memphis coach said. "But guys have stayed the course and stayed ready."

The Grizzlies were sharp again without their All-Star, just as they were in a 132-120 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday, and became the second team to lock up a spot in the postseason.

With Memphis leading 107-71 entering the fourth, the Grizzlies reserves