Lakers Triumph Over Grizzlies, Boosting Their Play-in Prospects

On one end, the Lakers were bumbling their way through the game, much like someone waking up in a strange, dark room with no idea how to turn on the lights.

On the other end, you had the team the Lakers faced in the first round of the playoffs, all dressed in street clothes, watching a collection of young players, others on 10-day contracts, and G Leaguers threatening any chance the Lakers had of moving up from 10th place in the Western Conference standings.

In all of the combinations and permutations that would determine the Lakers’ play-in fate, Friday night in Memphis was a given. The Grizzlies had lost their last three games by a combined 47 points, with several regulars injured or out for the season. Thirteen different players remained inactive. Nobody who played for Memphis on Friday played in the playoffs for the Grizzlies last season.

However, the Lakers were caught with their hands down at their waists, and the Grizzlies’ repeated jabs to the chin stunned the team with everything to play for. The Lakers ultimately discovered the switch, which LeBron James flipped with six straight points to help the Lakers win 123-120.

“Just win,” Anthony Davis remarked. “They have some excellent young guys over there that can shoot the hoop. We just have to win. It’s the time of year when you have to win. “Win and keep moving forward.”

With one more stop required, the Lakers and Grizzlies rushed for a loose ball, with James intercepting a pass while racing in the opposite direction at full speed. He finished the game with a two-handed reverse slam. It happened on the floor with GG Jackson, the Grizzlies’ top player and the NBA’s youngest.

“They would undoubtedly know based on the grays in my beard. “They’d probably realize I’m much older than they think,” James stated. “But to be on the floor and be able to play at a high level and keep up with the young guys, especially the youngest kid, is something I’m proud of. It’s an honor to be able to play my favorite game at a high level.”

Forced to wait for West Coast results, the Lakers received good news when the Pelicans won in Golden State thanks to a big second quarter and some important C.J. McCollum shots. The Warriors’ loss means that if the Lakers beat the Pelicans, they will finish no lower than the ninth seed.

The Suns then rallied from behind to defeat the Lakers in Sacramento, moving them up to eighth place, which they will maintain with a victory over the Pelicans on Sunday.

It would have made no difference if they had lost to the Grizzlies. But the Lakers did enough, thanks to their stars, to pull off a victory. James scored 37 points, Davis returned from an eye injury with 36 points and 14 rebounds, and Rui Hachimura contributed 14 points.

Jackson scored 31 points and nailed seven threes, but his late chance at a game-winning three for No. 8 fell short. “Overall, there were some things we had to clean up,” said Lakers coach Darvin Ham, “but we needed to win this game, and we did.”