FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Grizzlies - Game 2 - 2023

FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Grizzlies – Game 2 – 2023

Franchise Sports Media

Los Angeles Lakers (43-39) | Memphis Grizzlies (51-31)

 

The Memphis Grizzlies, without Ja Morant, evened up the series at 1-1 with their 103-93 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Lakers vs Grizzles played at the FedEx Forum on Wednesday.

The Los Angeles Lakers lost Game 2 and head back home with a 1-1 series. Home-court advantage still belongs to the Lakers thanks to their Game 1 win, but they’ll need to up their energy to match the tough, desperate Memphis Grizzlies effort that won them Game 2.

“We were fortunate enough to get Game 1,” Lakers head coach Darvin Ham said. “We weren’t fortunate enough to get Game 2. To get a split, nonetheless, still a good trip.”

LeBron James called Game 3 the most important game of the series, “If we’re comfortable, they’ll come in and take that home-court advantage right back from us.”

James had 28 points (12-of-23 FGs, 1-for-8 3s), 12 rebounds, and three assists. However, James was a team-worst -17 in +/-. Rui Hachimura once again had himself a game, totaling 20 points (7-of-12 FGs, 2-for-4 3s, 4-for-6 FTs) and five rebounds off the bench. 

Rui Hachimura has been on a tear lately

Hachimura became the first Laker to score 20+ in back-to-back playoff games off the bench since Magic Johnson in 1996.

The start of the Lakers vs Grizzlies’ first half. 

Anthony Davis disappointed in this one, finishing with just 13 points (4-of-14 FGs), eight rebounds, three assists, and five blocks.

“I liked the shots I took, just missed them,” Davis said. “A lot of shots close to the rim that normally go in. Flush it and get ready for Saturday.”

Davis, however, became the first Laker since Shaquille O’Neal in 1998 to have five or more blocks in back-to-back playoff games. He’s also the first player in the NBA to do so since Brook Lopez in 2019.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Davis said of how much he’s looking forward to bouncing back in Game 3. “Wish we could play tomorrow. But we’ll get home and get a couple days rest, couple days of film, and I’ll be ready for Game 3 for sure.”

D’Angelo Russell also struggled to produce, having just five points (2-of-11 FGs, 1-for-5 3s), seven rebounds, and four assists.

“I was just missing shots,” Russell said. “I liked the shots I was getting, honestly. Just missing them.”

Austin Reaves also couldn’t get much going, totaling 12 points (5-of-12 FGs, 1-of-3 3s), five rebounds, and four assists.

“They were desperate, and they played harder than us, but we feel like we have a good opportunity regardless of who we are playing,” Reaves said of Memphis’ play.

The end of the Lakers vs Grizzlies’ first half. 

“Wish we would have gotten tonight, but that’s the nature of the game,” Reaves added. “You win some, and you lose some. Excited to get back to our home crowd.”

The start of the Lakers vs Grizzlies’ second half. 

As for the Grizzlies, Xavier Tillman led the way with 22 points (10-of-13 FGs), 13 rebounds, and three assists. Dillon Brooks contributed 12 points (5-of-14 FGs, 2-for-6 3s) and three assists.

“I don’t care. He’s old,” Dillon Brooks said of his confrontation with James. “I poke bears. I don’t respect someone until he gives me 40.”

Brooks also said that he wishes he had a chance to guard the Miami Heat or Cleveland Cavalier James, “It would’ve been a harder task.”

Jaren Jackson Jr. (18 points, nine rebounds, three blocks) ran back to the Memphis locker room after turning his left ankle to chase Davis in transition. Santi Aldama was in for Jackson, but there was a defensive drop-off. Memphis was terrific on defense to start, holding Los Angeles to 2-of-10 FGs.

The Lakers preached the importance of not turning the ball over, but they had already committed four turnovers, the last leading to an and-1 three that put Memphis up by 11.

Los Angeles trailed 59-44 at the half, shooting only 35.7 percent against a physical Memphis defense. The Grizzlies had 38 points in the paint and 15 points off the Lakers’ turnovers.

The Lakers cut the Grizzlies’ 20-point lead to as few as six points but couldn’t get any closer.

The threat of players like Tyus Jones and Desmond Bane as pull-up shooters altered the Lakers’ pick-and-roll defense, mostly with Davis having to engage the ball handler, which opened up the roll. That’s how Tillman got a lot of great looks getting downhill off this action. 

Other news:

As a team, the Lakers shot 7-for-26 (26.9 percent) from 3.

Through two games, the Lakers with Davis on the floor (75 min) were +23, compared to the Lakers with Davis off the floor (21 min) were -17.

The Lakers had their lowest-scoring output of the entire season.

The final score of the Lakers vs Grizzlies was 103-93, Grizzlies.

The Lakers will continue their series with the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, April 22nd, at 7:00 p.m. PT.

 

– Jake Ideguchi-Furukawa – Franchise Sports Media

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