They met two days before Sunday night’s matchup at Crypto.com Arena, a two-game matchup between the Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies reminiscent of a playoff series.
The Lakers won the first game Friday evening and I knew the Grizzlies were going to bring more intensity and a stronger effort even if star guard Ja Morant (right calf bruise) didn’t play.
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And so it did, with the Lakers falling behind by 16 points in the second quarter, with the Grizzlies significantly increasing their lead. But with Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Jake LaRavia leading the way, the Lakers pulled away a 120-114 victory.
Doncic nearly had a triple-double with 36 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. James had 26 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds. LaRavia, starting in the absence of Rui Hachimura, collected 26 points, five rebounds and four assists. It was the second straight time LaRavia, who averaged 9.1 points, scored 20-plus.
A back-and-forth game resulted in several lead changes in the fourth quarter, with the Lakers and Grizzlies taking turns in tense moments. The Lakers finally took the advantage definitively at 100-99 on a basket from Doncic.
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Then James scored on a three-point play and made one of two free throws for a 104-99 lead with 3 minutes, 49 seconds left.
The Lakers (22-11) had an answer for every Grizzlies counter, with the final stamp of the game being Doncic’s consecutive three-pointers for a nine-point lead with 2:01 to play.
The fact that the NBA scheduled the Lakers to host the Grizzlies on Friday and Sunday was not a problem for coach JJ Redick.
“I like it,” Redick said. “I think it replicates (the playoffs) in a way. A playoff series, especially when it’s not a home-and-home situation, but most of you play a two-game series on someone’s home field for a day in between. I had a few last year. So, I like that for our team and it’s a good opportunity for growth. After a win, knowing there’s a lot in which ones we can be better and where we can improve. That’s the big challenge for me.
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For Redick, it meant what it always does for the Lakers: improve the defense.
Redick wanted his team to get back on defense quicker and not let the Grizzlies (15-20) get as many offensive opportunities early in the game.
LeBron James shoots against the Grizzlies’ Christian Koloko in the first quarter on Sunday. (Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
The Lakers also wanted to revive center Deandre Ayton after a five-game sleepout.
Ayton had just four points on 2-of-4 shooting against the Grizzlies Friday night and hadn’t scored more than 12 points in that span.
So, the Lakers went to Ayton early, trying to ignite his game. It worked to some extent, with Ayton scoring 15 points, grabbing eight rebounds and blocking three shots.
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This story was originally published in Los Angeles Times.
