New FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Grizzlies- Game 41

New FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Grizzlies- Game 41

Franchise Sports Media

Los Angeles Lakers (21-20)  | Memphis Grizzlies (28-14)

 

The Los Angeles Lakers saw their four-game winning streak end at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies in a 127-119 loss.

 

Los Angeles looked to continue their best winning streak of the season while the Memphis Grizzlies looked to keep building on their impressive 2021-2022 campaign.

Stanley Johnson got the scoring started while LeBron James followed up with a layup for the game’s first two baskets. The trio of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane made their presence known early as they combined for the Grizzlies’ first 10 points of the game to take a 10-6 lead early on. The big highlight early on came from Morant as he chased down Avery Bradley on the fast break and denied him with a two-handed chase-down block.

James got the lead back with over five minutes left in the opening quarter with a three only to be countered by a John Konchar three and a layup by Xavier Tillman. The Lakers’ supporting cast kept the team going, with Talen Horton-Tucker scoring eight straight points. Back-and-forth scoring dominated the remainder of the quarter, and both teams entered the second quarter tied at 27.

Bane brought the heat early in the second with a three to untie the game, followed by seven points that spread across 1:40. Bane’s seven-point run was also the only points the Grizzlies scored in that span. The teams went back and forth with matching baskets once more until Memphis put on a late run in the quarter. The Grizzlies extended their lead into the double digits with 2:13 left off a Jackson Jr. tip-in. The lead suddenly became 15 thanks to a Kyle Anderson jumper.

Los Angeles suddenly found themselves in a bit of a hole as the half came to an end.

 

The Lakers entered the locker room down 65-52 after the late quarter falloff.

 

The Lakers looked to claw back into the game, but throughout the first half of the third quarter, the Grizzlies were having none of it. Memphis extended and maintained their lead to as much as 22 by the 6:00 mark of the frame as the team’s young and rising stars established their dominance.

The dreaded third-quarter struggles returned in terrible fashion for the Lakers as the Grizzlies continued to pull away with each basket. The lead got close to 30 multiple times, but the quarter ended with the score showing 107-83 in favor of Memphis.

The fourth quarter saw more of the same in the first few minutes as the Grizzlies continued to do an excellent job of maintaining their huge lead. Throughout most of the game, James hadn’t received the help he needed to stay in the game. With 4:31 left, the Grizzlies pulled their starters. James had already been removed with around 8:00 left.

Austin Reaves tried to take advantage of the Grizzlies‘ reserves by scoring 11 out of 13 points in a 13-0 run by the Lakers in the final minutes. The run forced Memphis to put their young stars back into the game, but the Grizzlies staved off the comeback effort and picked up the win 127-119.

Despite 35 points from James, no other starters reached double figures as Russell Westbrook struggled on 2-12 shooting and had six points while Johnson, Malik Monk, and Bradley combined for 16 points. Reaves, Horton-Tucker, and Wayne Ellington combined for 45 points off the bench, but the help came too little too late to keep the winning streak going.

 

The Lakers hit the road for their next game, which will be Wednesday night when the team heads to Sacramento to face off with the Kings once more. The game will begin at 7:00 and can be seen live on Spectrum SportsNet.

Lakers vs Grizzlies                           Lakers vs Grizzlies                         Lakers vs Grizzlies                         Lakers vs Grizzlies                         Lakers vs Grizzlies                           Lakers vs Grizzlies                                                                                                               

 

– Matt Dobbs – Franchise Sports Media

Follow Matt on Twitter @RecordBowlerFSM

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