Hit in the foot during the last match, Anthony Davis is not in uniform for this trip to Memphis. The Lakers and the Grizzlies are off to a very brisk pace. The shots are taken very quickly, not always accurately and, in this little game, it is the locals who take the advantage (35-27).
In the second quarter, LeBron James wakes up and flexes his muscles. With his outside shots and his penetrations, he brought Los Angeles closer, before a response from Ja Morant at the end of the first period. Memphis still has the upper hand at halftime (59-53).
When we return from the locker room, we start at the same pace as at the start of the first half. It runs, it shoots quickly and the Grizzlies, once again, take advantage of it, especially with a big 3-point address. Jay Huff puts on a show with several award-winning baskets and even a backstroke dunk! The Lakers seemed stunned at the end of the third quarter (95-81) and the start of the fourth confirmed it since the Californians conceded an 8-0.
Ja Morant and his teammates are heading towards a logical victory (131-114). For Los Angeles, it is the second defeat in a row and a fourth in five away matches.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– LeBron James too lonely. Discreet at the start of the game, the Lakers All-Star took it up a notch in the second quarter, with 16 points. He added 9 units in the third quarter, but the general awkwardness around him (24% at 3-pts for the rest of his teammates) weighed down Los Angeles' ambitions. The “King” finished with 39 points – his season record – at 15/24 on the shoot and 6/11 on 3-pts.
– The Grizzlies’ 3-point address. Ja Morant and his gang did not hesitate to draw from the start of the match and this desire paid off after the break. In the third quarter, the Grizzlies shot 8/10 from behind the arc! Finally, it remains very good with a 4/6, so that Memphis ends the game with 17 successes in 34 attempts. This 50% success made the difference because it gave breathing room to the locals, who always had an answer.
– A sharp bench in Memphis. Among the keys to Memphis' skill and rhythm are the performances of the substitutes. Jake LaRavia, Jay Huff and Scotty Pippen Jr. were very good, very fair. The three actually compiled 39 points, 16 assists and 14 rebounds, shooting 15/27!
– Tuomas Iisalo at the helm. Taylor Jenkins away from the team for personal reasons, it was his first assistant, Tuomas Iisalo, who led the Grizzlies for this match against the Lakers. The big first for the Finnish technician, who was at the head of Paris Basketball last season.
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
