Game ID: 22300491
Memphis Grizzlies @ Los Angeles Lakers
Friday, January 5, 2024 at 10:00 PM ET
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
LAL 38 21 35 19 113MEM 29 29 36 33 127
LAL vs MEM ScoutingLAL vs MEM Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
LAL availability going into 12/28 · 2 days' restOUT Vincent missed 3 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Wood missed 2 since 12/23, returns tonight: 23 min (134% of 17)
OUT Christie missed 3 since 12/21, returns tonight: 24 min (172% of 14)
NEW Prince 27 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Reddish 20 to 28 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 12/30 · 1 day's restOUT Vincent missed 4 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Wood back 12/28 after 2, 23 min since (134% of 17)
BACK Christie back 12/28 after 3, 24 min since (172% of 14)
NEW Prince 27 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Reddish 20 to 28 min over the last 4
LAL availability going into 12/31 · back-to-backOUT Vincent missed 5 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Wood back 12/28 after 2, 18 min since (105% of 17)
BACK Christie back 12/28 after 3, 24 min since (172% of 14)
NEW Prince 27 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Reddish 20 to 26 min over the last 4
LAL availability going into 1/03 · 2 days' restOUT Vincent missed 6 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Wood back 12/28 after 2, 21 min since (118% of 17)
BACK Christie back 12/28 after 3, 27 min since (190% of 14)
LAL availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Russell missed 2 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 7 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Wood back 12/28 after 2, 22 min since (124% of 17)
BACK Christie back 12/28 after 3, 27 min since (194% of 14)
LAL availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Russell missed 3 since 12/31, returns tonight: 31 min (94% of 33)
OUT Hachimura missed 2 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 8 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Wood back 12/28 after 2, 20 min since (118% of 17)
BACK Christie back 12/28 after 3, 26 min since (181% of 14)
LAL availability going into 1/09 · 1 day's restOUT Hachimura missed 3 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 9 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Hayes missed 2 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Russell back 1/07 after 3, 31 min since (94% of 33)
NEW Prince 27 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Christie 14 to 23 min over the last 4
LAL availability going into 1/11 · 1 day's restOUT Hachimura missed 4 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 10 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Hayes missed 3 since 1/05, returns tonight: 13 min (107% of 12)
BACK Russell back 1/07 after 3, 24 min since (72% of 33)
NEW Prince 27 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Christie 14 to 22 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 1/13 · 1 day's restOUT Hachimura missed 5 since 1/03, returns tonight: 19 min (69% of 27)
OUT Vincent missed 11 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Russell back 1/07 after 3, 25 min since (76% of 33)
BACK Hayes back 1/11 after 3, 13 min since (107% of 12)
NEW Christie 14 to 21 min over the last 5
MEM availability going into 12/29 · back-to-backOUT Jackson missed 5 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Kennard missed 19 since 11/18, out tonight
OUT LaRavia missed 5 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Rose missed 6 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Morant back 12/19 after 25, 36 min since (103% of 35)
BACK Smart back 12/26 after 17, 26 min since (87% of 30)
BACK Roddy back 12/26 after 2, 22 min since (97% of 23)
BACK Gilyard back 12/28 after 4, 12 min since (68% of 18)
MEM availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Jackson missed 6 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Kennard missed 20 since 11/18, returns tonight: 20 min (77% of 26)
OUT LaRavia missed 6 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Rose missed 7 since 12/18, returns tonight: 12 min (73% of 17)
BACK Smart back 12/26 after 17, 28 min since (93% of 30)
BACK Roddy back 12/26 after 2, 22 min since (96% of 23)
BACK Gilyard back 12/28 after 4, 12 min since (68% of 18)
MEM availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Jackson missed 7 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT LaRavia missed 7 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Gilyard missed 2 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK Smart back 12/26 after 17, 29 min since (95% of 30)
BACK Kennard back 12/31 after 20, 20 min since (77% of 26)
BACK Roddy back 12/26 after 2, 20 min since (84% of 23)
BACK Rose back 12/31 after 7, 12 min since (73% of 17)
MEM availability going into 1/03 · back-to-backOUT Jackson missed 8 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT LaRavia missed 8 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Gilyard missed 3 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK Smart back 12/26 after 17, 29 min since (96% of 30)
BACK Kennard back 12/31 after 20, 20 min since (79% of 26)
BACK Roddy back 12/26 after 2, 16 min since (68% of 23)
BACK Rose back 12/31 after 7, 10 min since (63% of 17)
MEM availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Jackson missed 9 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT LaRavia missed 9 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Gilyard missed 4 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK Kennard back 12/31 after 20, 20 min since (77% of 26)
BACK Rose back 12/31 after 7, 10 min since (63% of 17)
MEM availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Williams Jr. missed 2 since 1/03, returns tonight: 37 min (134% of 28)
OUT Jackson missed 10 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT LaRavia missed 10 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Gilyard missed 5 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Rose missed 2 since 1/03, out tonight
BACK Kennard back 12/31 after 20, 20 min since (78% of 26)
MEM availability going into 1/09 · 1 day's restOUT Jackson missed 11 since 12/19, returns tonight: 2 min (8% of 26)
OUT LaRavia missed 11 since 12/19, returns tonight: 2 min (9% of 23)
OUT Gilyard missed 6 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Rose missed 3 since 1/03, out tonight
BACK Williams Jr. back 1/07 after 2, 37 min since (134% of 28)
BACK Kennard back 12/31 after 20, 20 min since (79% of 26)
MEM availability going into 1/12 · 2 days' restOUT Gilyard missed 7 since 12/29, returns tonight: 20 min (114% of 18)
OUT Rose missed 4 since 1/03, out tonight
BACK Williams Jr. back 1/07 after 2, 33 min since (121% of 28)
BACK Jackson back 1/09 after 11, 2 min since (8% of 26)
BACK LaRavia back 1/09 after 11, 2 min since (9% of 23)
MEM availability going into 1/13 · back-to-backOUT Aldama missed 2 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Rose missed 5 since 1/03, out tonight
BACK Williams Jr. back 1/07 after 2, 31 min since (112% of 28)
BACK Jackson back 1/09 after 11, 6 min since (22% of 26)
BACK LaRavia back 1/09 after 11, 11 min since (48% of 23)
BACK Gilyard back 1/12 after 7, 20 min since (114% of 18)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 23 free throws a game; Davis at 30 and James at 21 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Russell (2 straight), Vincent (7 straight). One day's rest. Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 119, shooting 42 percent and 33 from three, 23 free throws a game; Morant at 22 and Bane at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. Without Jackson (9 straight), LaRavia (9 straight), Gilyard (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where the Lakers have been minus-2 a night and Memphis minus-12. Call it the Lakers 116, Memphis 109.
12/28 vs CHA 133-112 — LAL notes
LAL won 133-112. LAL shot 54% (52 of 97) to CHA's 47%, 15 of 30 from three, and got to the line 14 times to CHA's 28. LAL turned it over 11 times to CHA's 19. Davis led with 26 (11 of 19); Hachimura added 17, James 17. The hinge was Q3, 41-23: a lead of 1 became 19, and the lead reached 28. Hachimura was the night's best plus/minus at +34.
12/30 @ MIN 106-108 — LAL notes
LAL lost 106-108. LAL took 12 more shots (88 to 76), but shot 42% to MIN's 50%, 7 of 24 from three, and went to the line 32 times to MIN's 24 — 25 points from the stripe to their 20. LAL turned it over 10 times to MIN's 19. Davis led with 33 (12 of 17, 8 of 10 at the line); James added 26. Q4 was theirs, 29-26, the deficit cut from 5 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 82-77 against them. They led by as many as 11.
12/31 @ NOP 109-129 — LAL notes
LAL lost 109-129. LAL shot 48% (39 of 82) to NOP's 52%, 10 of 32 from three. The glass went 35-47 against them. James led with 34 (12 of 24, 3 of 7 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Reaves added 20, Davis 20. Q3 was theirs, 32-30, the deficit cut from 17 to 15, but the other 3 periods went 99-77 against them. Reaves's -19 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/03 vs MIA 96-110 — LAL notes
LAL lost 96-110. LAL shot 42% (35 of 83) to MIA's 44%, 4 of 30 from three, and went to the line 24 times to MIA's 17 — 22 points from the stripe to their 12. LAL turned it over 21 times to MIA's 8, and MIA turned those into 14 steals. The glass went 50-39 for them. Davis led with 29 (10 of 17, 9 of 10 at the line); Reaves added 24, Christie 14. Q3 was theirs, 22-19, the deficit cut from 8 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 91-74 against them. James's -20 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/05 vs MEM 113-127 — LAL notes
LAL lost 113-127. LAL shot 49% (42 of 85) to MEM's 54%, 10 of 28 from three, and went to the line 27 times to MEM's 20 — 19 points from the stripe to their 16. James led with 32 (11 of 24, 4 of 9 from three, 6 of 10 at the line); Davis added 31, Reaves 19. Q1 was theirs, 38-29, but the other 3 periods went 98-75 against them. They led by as many as 13. Reaves's -23 in 40 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/07 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 24 free throws a game; Davis at 28 and James at 24 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Russell (3 straight), Hachimura (2 straight), Vincent (8 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 106, shooting 52 percent and 42 from three, 23 free throws a game; George at 26 and Leonard at 24 a game. That is 5 straight wins. They have won the glass by 7 a night. Without Tucker (18 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-7 a night and the Lakers minus-3 and the arc, the Clippers at 42 percent from three to the Lakers' 32. Call it the Clippers 116, the Lakers 112, the Lakers keeping it close.
1/09 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 29 from three, 25 free throws a game; Davis at 27 and James at 26 a game. Without Hachimura (3 straight), Vincent (9 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 123, shooting 52 percent and 42 from three, 27 free throws a game; Siakam at 26 and Barrett at 21 a game. Without Dick (6 straight), Freeman-Liberty (34 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the arc, Toronto at 42 percent from three to the Lakers' 29 and the turnovers, the Lakers giving it away 15 times a game to Toronto's 10. Call it the Lakers 117, Toronto 116, Toronto keeping it close.
1/11 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 33 from three, 26 free throws a game; Davis at 29 and James at 25 a game. Without Hachimura (4 straight), Vincent (10 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Booker at 22 and Beal at 19 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the arc, Phoenix at 37 percent from three to the Lakers' 33. Call it the Lakers 116, Phoenix 115, Phoenix keeping it close.
1/13 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 115, shooting 51 percent and 37 from three, 26 free throws a game; Markkanen at 24 and Sexton at 19 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Horton-Tucker (4 straight), Juzang (14 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Davis at 27 and James at 20 a game. Without Hachimura (5 straight), Vincent (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-11 a night and the Lakers minus-1. Call it Utah 119, the Lakers 114.
12/29 @ LAC 106-117 — MEM notes
MEM lost 106-117. MEM shot 44% (38 of 87) to LAC's 49%, 13 of 40 from three. MEM turned it over 12 times to LAC's 17. The glass went 33-54 against them. Jackson Jr. led with 22 (8 of 17, 4 of 6 from three); Smart added 22, Morant 19. Q4 was theirs, 31-23, the deficit cut from 19 to 11, but the other 3 periods went 94-75 against them. Morant's -19 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/31 vs SAC 92-123 — MEM notes
MEM lost 92-123. MEM shot 37% (30 of 82) to SAC's 51%, 12 of 40 from three, and went to the line 28 times to SAC's 17 — 20 points from the stripe to their 13. The glass went 34-59 against them. Jackson Jr. led with 18 (6 of 14, 1 of 4 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Bane added 17, Morant 17. Q1 was theirs, 29-34, but the other 3 periods went 89-63 against them. Bane's -18 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/02 vs SAS 106-98 — MEM notes
MEM won 106-98. MEM shot 46% (37 of 80) to SAS's 42%, 12 of 38 from three. Morant led with 26 (7 of 15, 3 of 9 from three, 9 of 12 at the line); Bane added 24, Aldama 13. The hinge was Q2, 27-17: MEM came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 7, and the lead reached 18. Kennard was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
1/03 vs TOR 111-116 — MEM notes
MEM lost 111-116. MEM took 9 more shots (94 to 85), but shot 43% to TOR's 48%, 15 of 42 from three, and got to the line 19 times to TOR's 27. Morant led with 28 (10 of 18, 3 of 6 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Jackson Jr. added 24, Bane 22. Q4 was theirs, 35-23, the deficit cut from 17 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 93-76 against them. Kennard's -17 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/05 @ LAL 127-113 — MEM notes
MEM won 127-113. MEM shot 54% (44 of 82) to LAL's 49%, 23 of 45 from three, and got to the line 20 times to LAL's 27. Jackson Jr. led with 31 (11 of 14, 5 of 6 from three); Smart added 29, Bane 24. The hinge was Q4, 33-19: from level to 14 ahead. MEM trailed 58-59 at the half and won the second half 69-54. Biyombo was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
1/07 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 108, shooting 52 percent and 42 from three, 24 free throws a game; Booker at 24 and Beal at 20 a game. Without Durant (3 straight). One day's rest. Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 113, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Morant at 22 and Bane at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Williams Jr. (2 straight), Jackson (10 straight), LaRavia (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-2 a night and Memphis minus-7 and the arc, Phoenix at 42 percent from three to Memphis's 37. Call it Phoenix 116, Memphis 108.
1/09 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 111, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Dončić at 33 and Irving at 26 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Lively II (2 straight), Kleber (29 straight), Exum (3 straight). One day's rest. Memphis comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 113, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Morant at 23 and Jackson Jr. at 22 a game. Without Jackson (11 straight), LaRavia (11 straight), Gilyard (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Dallas 118, Memphis 110.
1/12 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Bane at 25 and Morant at 25 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Gilyard (7 straight), Rose (4 straight). 2 days' rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 111, shooting 52 percent and 45 from three, 21 free throws a game; George at 27 and Leonard at 22 a game. They have won the glass by 6 a night. Without Tucker (21 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 45 percent from three to Memphis's 38 and the turnovers, Memphis giving it away 15 times a game to the Clippers' 12. Call it the Clippers 114, Memphis 113, Memphis keeping it close.
1/13 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 26 and Bane at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Aldama (2 straight), Rose (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 102, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brunson at 27 and Randle at 27 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Robinson (17 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 102 a night to Memphis's 115. Call it New York 116, Memphis 111.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
LALAD A. Davis
AR A. Reaves
CR C. Reddish
CW C. Wood
JV J. Vanderbilt
LJ L. James
MC M. Christie
TP T. Prince
MEMBB B. Biyombo
DB D. Bane
DR D. Roddy
JJ J. Jackson Jr.
JM J. Morant
LK L. Kennard
MS M. Smart
SA S. Aldama
XT X. Tillman
ZW Z. Williams
LAL/MEM the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Frustrated LeBron sounds off on Lakers' struggles after 10th loss in 13 games, 127-113 to Memphis
LOS ANGELES -- — LeBron James didn't sugarcoat his increasingly sour feelings after the Los Angeles Lakers spiraled to their 10th loss in 13 games Friday night, falling 127-113 to the Memphis Grizzlies .
“We just suck right now,” a visibly perturbed James said after he scored 32 points in the Lakers' fourth consecutive loss.
Anthony Davis had 31 points in Los Angeles’ latest discouraging defeat since winning the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament. The Lakers — who gave up a season-high 23 3-pointers to a Memphis team that’s last in the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage — have beaten only San Antonio, Oklahoma City and Charlotte since raising the trophy in Las Vegas four weeks ago.
Before the game, coach Darvin Ham said he felt confident in his job security because of his discussions with owner Jeanie Buss and general manager Rob Pelinka. After the Lakers’ latest dismal effort, Ham praised his team’s areas of improvement while expressing a curious frustration with the public reception of their recent struggles.
“This is the NBA, man,” Ham said. “This is a marathon. You have to look at the totality of the picture. I’m tired of people living and dying with every single game we play. It’s ludicrous, actually. It’s like, ‘Come on, man. This is a marathon.’ We hit a tough stretch. It’s the same team. We played some high-level games a little while ago, and we’ve just got to get back to that. We’ve got to keep the fight, though. We cannot lose our fight.”
James doesn't share his coach's optimism: He reacted negatively to a suggestion that the Lakers’ solid play in the tournament final was an indication that this team can be a championship contender.
“That was just two games, though,” James said. “That was a small sample. Everybody is getting so cracked up about Vegas, keep bringing up Vegas. It was two games. We took care of that business … but that was really just two games.”
Austin Reaves had 19 points and a career-high 12 assists, but the Lakers dropped to 0-2 to begin a 12-game stretch with just one game outside of Los Angeles. The Lakers acknowledge they're feeling the strain of their losing streak.
“Wearing this uniform, you get a lot of flack, and guys are watching you under a microscope as a team,” Davis said. "You have a couple of bad games, lose a couple in a row, you can't lose your confidence. Can't be on social media, listening to whatever people are saying. We've got to stay together in this locker room and find our way out of it. There's no help coming. There's no cavalry. We've got to do it with the guys we've got and remain together.”
Jaren Jackson Jr . hit five 3-pointers and scored 31 points and Marcus Smart added 29 points with a season-high eight 3-pointers for the Grizzlies, who earned just their second win in six games.
Desmond Bane had 24 points and 13 assists while Ja Morant scored 21 points for Memphis, whose starting lineup combined for 21 of those 3-pointers. Smart had missed 16 consecutive 3-point attempts over the past five games in a low-percentage shooting season before he hit the first of his 8 3-pointers against the Lakers.
Ziaire Williams added 10 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter while the Grizzlies pulled away from the Lakers with a game-ending, 24-10 run.
"We got some pretty good looks," James said. “They turned us over. I had two critical turnovers, missed four free throws. But we had our chances.”
Los Angeles had won six consecutive home games over the Grizzlies in the past 12 months, including three straight in the Lakers' first-round playoff upset of the second-seeded Grizz last spring.
“It was good, because obviously we haven't won here in a while,” Morant said. “It's the team that knocked us out of the playoffs. Obviously, we're not where we want to be right now during the season, so this was a big-time win for us. We can carry the momentum from this game.”
The Lakers played without two regulars and frequent starters: D’Angelo Russell missed his third straight game with a bruised tailbone, and Rui Hachimura missed his second in a row with a strained left calf.
During the third quarter, Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins got a technical foul for stepping onto the court during play to argue about a no-call during a loose ball scramble between James and Jackson.
Jenkins impeded Taurean Prince leading the Lakers' fast break the other way and then fought aggressively to get past his assistants as they held him back from the officials, but Jenkins somehow wasn't ejected. Jenkins said he apologized to Ham for interrupting play.
“You can't do that, so I take full responsibility there,” Jenkins said. “I saw a tussle there. Jaren is clamping LeBron. Obviously (the officials) didn't see that, and then I saw something that crossed the line. Maybe look at it after the fact, but I saw maybe some intent that I had to stand up for my guy. Glad to see our guys rally. Obviously got the crowd into it. ... I was just proud of the way they fought all the way through after a tough first 12 minutes.”