Allen Drops 40 In Jazz Loss To Clippers
Apr 10, 2019, 11:34 PM
Quin Snyder of the Utah Jazz speaks with Grayson Allen #24 during the first half against the LA Clippers at Staples Center on April 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – With several key players sitting out the Utah Jazz’s final regular season game, rookie Grayson Allen had a chance to shine.
He did just that, scoring a career-high 40 points while playing 40 minutes in Utah’s 143-137 loss to LA Clippers.
The game had no meaning going into the contest as both Utah and LA had their playoff positions set. Thus, the Jazz in a likely-strategic move, rested a ton of important players, including Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert.
That's 4️⃣0️⃣ for Grayson#TakeNote | #NBARooks pic.twitter.com/ER6RsnphEc
— x – Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 11, 2019
As a result, Allen was given just his second start of the season.
With the scoring outburst on the final night of the regular season, Allen becomes just the second Jazz rookie to score 40 points in a game. He joins Mitchell for that honor, who accomplished the feat twice last season.
At times, it has been a challenging first year for Allen, who was drafted by Utah with the 21st overall pick in last summer’s NBA Draft.
The former Duke star was averaging just 4.6 points in 10.2 minutes per games in just 37 appearances prior to Wednesday’s game in Los Angeles.
Finishing with a career-high 40 points tonight, Grayson Allen becomes just the second Jazz rookie to post a 40-point game (Donovan Mitchell, twice in 2017-18) #TakeNote #TeamIsEverything
— Utah Jazz PR (@UtahJazzPR) April 11, 2019
He spent extensive time getting reps with the Salt Lake City Stars of the NBA G League. In 12 games with the Stars, he averaged 16.3 points per game on 30.7 minutes a night.
Due to injuries and other causes, Allen has seen more and more time on the floor lately at the NBA level. He set a career-high of 14 points in the Jazz’s win over Phoenix on April 3 and then broke that mark in the next game against Sacramento with 23 points.
Allen and the Jazz will next face the Houston Rockets in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Times and dates for the opening game have not yet been announced.
