FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Grizzlies - Game 4 - 2023

FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Grizzlies – Game 4 – 2023

Franchise Sports Media

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

 

The Los Angeles Lakers took a commanding 3-1 series lead with their 117-111 overtime victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Lakers vs Grizzles played at the Crypto.com Arena on Monday.

The Los Angeles Lakers take a 3-1 series lead over the Memphis Grizzlies after a stellar performance from LeBron James put them over the top. They now have three chances to win one more game. 

“I’m so proud of our guys,” Lakers head coach Darvin Ham said. “The way we fought, just finding a way.”

James, on top of his playoff career-high 20 rebounds, scored 22 points (8-of-18 FGs, 1-for-7 3s, 5-for-7 FTs), seven assists (one turnover), and two blocks in his 20th season.

“Dillon Brooks said you don’t respect somebody until they get 40,” Shaquille O’Neal said on TNT, “LeBron got 20 and 20 tonight. That’s 40.”

LeBron James took over

James is the first Lakers player with 20 points and 20 rebounds in a playoff game since O’Neal did it on June 13th, 2004, against the Detroit Pistons.

The start of the Lakers vs Grizzlies’ first half. 

“Understanding how great of a rebounding team they are, it’s very important to clean the glass when they miss,” James said of his 20 rebounds. “We still got to do a better job of that, but I was just trying to do my part.”

James is also the eighth player in NBA history to have a game with at least 20 points, 20 rebounds, seven assists, and two blocks in the playoffs. He joins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, O’Neal, Bill Walton, Tim Duncan (twice), Kevin Garnett, Patrick Ewing, and Brad Daugherty.

“I’ve done some pretty cool things in my career, but I’ve never had 20 and 20 before,” James said of his first 20-20 game. “So that was pretty cool, I guess.”

James drove past Xavier Tillman Sr. for the layup to tie the game, 104-104, with 0.8 seconds left to send the game into overtime.

“He’s been making the right play his whole career,” Ham said of James. “That’s just him doing whatever it takes to put us in a position to succeed.”

Moments after getting his first ever 20-point, 20-rebound playoff game, James drove left and scored a bucket through contact with 28.7 seconds to play. Exhausted, he missed the free throw, but the Lakers led 113-108 with 29.1 seconds left, effectively sealing the Grizzlies’ fate.

The end of the Lakers vs Grizzlies’ first half. 

“He just took over down the stretch,” Anthony Davis said of James’ performance.

The start of the Lakers vs Grizzlies’ second half. 

Davis himself had a sobering performance, totaling just 12 points (4-of-13 FGs, 4-for-6 FTs), 11 rebounds, two steals, and four blocks. However, he did state that his hip has been bothering him for around a week and a half.

“There was no way I was coming out,” Davis said of his hip. “Just tried to give whatever I could to the team. I’ll be fine. Take care of it tonight and tomorrow, and get ready for Wednesday’s game.”

Austin Reaves showed up when it mattered the most, putting up 23 points (7-of-16 FGs, 2-for-5 3s, 7-of-8 FTs), four rebounds, and six assists.

“It’s a dream come true,” Reaves said of the MVP chants he received. “If you would’ve told me that two years ago, I would’ve told you that you were crazy.”

“I mean, it’s love,” Reaves added on the MVP chants. “I’ve said many times; I’m clearly not in the MVP race, but the way they support me, the way I believe that they love the way that I play. I’m going to give it everything I’ve got every night.”

The start to Game 4 for Los Angeles resembled Game 2, when they struggled to score against Memphis in the half-court.

However, Jarred Vanderbilt scored 10 of the Lakers’ first 12 points, including two 3s; after not being much of a factor offensively in this series, he found his rhythm.

Los Angeles struggled with Davis on the bench this series, but not in this one. They trailed 21-20 when he left at the 2:37 mark but led 29-23 at the end of the quarter.

The second quarter was the exact opposite of the first, a great start with an awful end, as a 14-1 Memphis run to end the half cut the Lakers’ lead to two. Los Angeles stagnated on offense, while the Grizzlies converted on the other end. Second-chance points (12-4) kept Memphis in it.

“We had some moments in the game that weren’t too pretty, but we just kept chipping away possession by possession,” Darvin Ham said.

Perseverance paid off as D’Angelo Russell’s (17 points) three straight 3’s were a lifeline for the Lakers, helping them force overtime.

“Just free flowing. It just kinda happened,” Russell said about his huge back-to-back-to-back 3’s. “Right place, right time, just took advantage of it.”

Brooks didn’t speak to reporters for the second straight game. “I’m out,” Brooks said. 

Brooks laid an egg offensively, going just 4-of-11 from the field and 1-for-7 from distance towards just 11 points, five rebounds, and four assists.

Despite Ja Morant also skipping media availability, Morant had 19 points (8-of-24 FGs, 1-for-6 3s), four rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. However, nobody can be more disappointed than Desmond Bane, who finished with 36 points (13-of-29 FGs, 3-for-12 3s, 7-for-7 FTs), seven rebounds, and three assists.

“The close-out game is always the hardest game of a series,” LeBron James said, looking ahead. “It’s the most grueling one, it’s the most tiring one, and we have to be ready for it.”

The Lakers are now 21-8 in the playoffs when James and Davis both start.

The final score of the Lakers vs Grizzlies was 117-111, Lakers.

The Lakers will continue their series with the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, April 26th, at 4:30 p.m. PT.

 

– Jake Ideguchi-Furukawa – Franchise Sports Media

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