The Los Angeles Lakers defeated theMemphis Grizzlies 136-124 on Wednesday night after LeBron James recorded a triple-double with 23 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 assists and Rui Hachimura scored 32 points. The Lakers had a commanding lead in the third quarter.
The Lakers, who were without James on Tuesday night and came off a 128-124 double-overtime victory in Milwaukee, won five straight games to close the gap on idle Dallas to 2 1/2 games and secure the sixth spot in the Western Conference, which would spare them a play-in game.
Anthony Davis did not play against Memphis after finishing with a career-high 34 points and 23 rebounds in 52 minutes against Milwaukee. He hyperextend Ed his left knee late in the game against the Bucks. James claimed that because Davis was not playing, Hachimura’s 10 rebounds and 7 of 8 3-pointers were essential to his scoring.
Despite the extended game a night earlier, the Lakers seemed fine with their shooting legs in the first half, and led 69-61 at the break. Lakers coach Darvin Ham almost predicted the pace of the game, saying it was key for Los Angeles to get their legs in the first half after the Milwaukee win and let the second half play out.
“We started getting a groove into the game,” Ham said. “We knew coming off the (Bucks) game, this was not going to be a walk in the park.”
Los Angeles converted eight of its first 10 long-range shots in the third to stretch the advantage to 27. Memphis closed the third on a 21-4 run to pull to 102-92 entering the fourth.
The Lakers would maintain the double-digit lead through the bulk of the fourth.
“Priority was the paint,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said of Hachimura’s shooting. “Obviously, he was the beneficiary of some great ball movement. We adjusted late, but probably a little late on my part.”
The Grizzlies, limping to the finish after a season filled with injuries, got an emotional boost with the return of Brandon Clarke. The forward had not played since March 5, 2023 healing from a left Achilles injury. He finished with six points in almost 21 minutes.
As soon as Clarke got off the bench to enter the game in the first quarter, the Memphis fans began applauding his anticipated appearance. The recognition continued until a standing ovation when he was announced entering the game.
“I’m glad to get that first game over with,” Clarke said, acknowledging he still has work on his stamina. “I’ve been thinking about it for a very long time. I wish we could have won, but it was fun to play.”
The Lakers play down the stretch of the season is reminiscent of their run to make the playoffs last season. They finished the season 9-2 and made the play-in game where they defeated Minnesota before dispatching the Grizzlies in six games.
“Our laundry list has been simplified,” Ham said. “We know that nothing else matters if we don’t take care of our own business. You feel the playoff smell in the air. The playoffs and the postseason are rapidly approaching.”
Lakers: At Indiana on Friday night.
Leave a Reply