LeBron James, Lakers avert disaster with 'ugly' win vs. Grizzlies in Anthony Davis' return
13/04/2024 06:15
Despite massive box scores from LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Los Angeles Lakers flirted with infamy on Friday night, nearly blowing a pivotal game to the severely shorthanded Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum.
The Lakers were hoping Friday’s penultimate matchup would provide an automatic W. LeBron and Anthony Davis shared the court for the first time since last Saturday afternoon’s sterling win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. (By Sunday night, LeBron’s illness and AD’s eye injury had stymied the Lakers’ momentum.) The 27-54 Grizzlies own of the lengthiest injury reports you’ll ever see.
Instead, the Lakers’ unfocused effort nearly caught up to them. The Lakers were undisciplined in the unsurprising areas: cleaning up the glass, 50/50 balls, biting on pump-fakes, committing untimely fouls, and 19 turnovers. The Grizzlies grit and grinded the way into a one-point lead with 1:17 to go.
As if nothing was never in doubt, LeBron James scored six straight points to avert a crisis — or at least unnecessary stress. The 39-year-old punctuated his 41st minute of basketball with a steal and signature double-clutch reverse windmill.
“You try to get as many wins as possible, whether they’re clean wins, ugly wins,” said AD. “We’re kind of in that mode now.”
LeBron James was all smiles after the dunk pic.twitter.com/PAg0uuvte8https://t.co/xhiyacCqa4
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 13, 2024
“Pretty good read, and I was able to finish it off,” said LeBron. “Anytime you’re able to seal a game … feels good, cause that what you live for.”
AD — recovered from his eye contusion — added 36 points (11-of-22 shooting), 14 rebounds, five assists, and two blocks in 43 minutes. The two stars carried the load for a Lakers group that appeared largely adrift. Davis played the entire second half.
“Felt fine. No issues with anything,” said AD. “Felt pretty good about there.”
“No disrespect to anyone on our roster, we have a really deep roster. But the rotation goes out the window when you need a much-needed victory like we just attained,” said Darvin Ham. “We needed to win this game, and we won it.”
Rui Hachimura scored 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting. Austin Reaves had 13 points. D’Angelo Russell shot 2-of-9 but tallied 10 assists.
Russell is 10-of-30 from the field over his last three games.
“When DLo plays well, we all play well,” said LeBron. “When DLo’s aggressive, we feel pretty good about that. He’ll find his shot, we’re not worried about that.”
“No matter how we had to come about this game, we came out with a dub,” said LeBron. “And that’s what most important.”
The Lakers began Friday in a three-way tie with the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors for the Nos. 8-10 seeds in the Western Conference, though the Kings and Warriors have the tiebreaker advantage.
The Lakers (46-35) will face the New Orleans Pelicans (48-32) at the Smoothie King Center in the 2023-24 regular-season finale on Sunday. LeBron and AD said they expect to be available.
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