After taking control of the series with style in Game 3, the Lakers counted on this Game 4 at home to break against the Grizzlies, before returning to Tennessee. It was still necessary to succeed in containing Ja Morantdazzling in the last game and who would once again represent the Californians’ main threat.
Unfortunately for Memphis, the All-Star point guard did not have the same impact on the night, especially as he re-injured his right hand in the third quarter after a fall and was then forced to play mainly… left hand. Not particularly a problem for his team, because Desmond Bane (36 points, 7 rebounds) ensured to compensate for the slack of its leader and give a chance of victory to his people.
Except that in front, Los Angeles was able to rely on a much deeper collective, in the wake of a LeBron James (22 points, 20 rebounds, 7 assists) decisive at the end of the game. Both to hang on to extra time and to make a difference during it and, with forceps, the “Purple & Gold” therefore managed to bend their opponents (117-111), in order to lead 3-1 and win. offer three qualifying balls in the conference semi-finals!
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Desmond Bane. Like his entire team, if not rookie David Roddy, Bane first tore up in style in this part, and this on both sides of the floor. Except that he took advantage of the Lakers’ mistakes in defense to regain confidence at the end of the second quarter and, from then on, he showed a completely different face in the game. Aggressive and successful, the rear of the Grizzlies thus showed the way to his own to exploit the slightest defensive oversight of Los Angeles against less physical defenders. A saving awakening for Memphis therefore, when we know that Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. were not the most inspired in attack.
✅ The Los Angeles Collective. In such a close match, it is important to be able to rely on a group that is both provided and deep to try to make the difference. This is exactly what happened for the Lakers, because between Jarred Vanderbilt, LeBron James, the bench players (Rui Hachimura, Dennis Schröder and Troy Brown Jr.), Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell or even Anthony Davis on certain sequences (mainly defensive), Darvin Ham was able to count on multiple options to punish these Grizzlies who had a lot of trouble “choosing their poison” in this Game 4 (and more generally in this series).
⛔ Anthony Davis. Between his foul problems, his clumsiness, his bad fall on the hip or his lack of good shooting positions, “AD” had a very complicated evening and, for the time being, he alternates excellent match then bad performance, this which obviously does not help Los Angeles to permanently impose its authority on Memphis.
THE FOLLOWING
Game 5but in Memphis, on the night of Wednesday to Thursday (01:30).
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D= defensive rebound; T = Total Bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Points = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
