MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 25 factors, Desmond Bane added 23 and the Memphis Grizzlies pulled away within the fourth quarter for a 108-95 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday evening.
Tyus Jones and De’Anthony Melton added 12 factors apiece for Memphis, which gained for the sixth time in seven video games.
“I believed our exercise was incredible defensively,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins stated. “I believed the Lakers got here out and sort of imposed their will within the first quarter, however we simply saved making these successful performs all through.”
LeBron James had a triple-double with 20 factors, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, and Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 22 factors. Talen Horton-Tucker and Avery Bradley every added 10 factors.
Memphis, which leads the league in factors within the paint, was pressured into long-range photographs early by the Lakers protection, and the capturing share mirrored the scenario.
However within the second quarter, Memphis was in a position to run extra. The transition baskets and extra Los Angeles turnovers contributed to the Grizzlies constructing a 59-53 lead on the half.
“The second quarter was the place the power of the sport shifted,” Laker coach Frank Vogel stated. “Our turnovers went manner up. We didn’t rebound the basketball. We had been sluggish to each unfastened ball.”
He added that there was “an excessive amount of casualness to our strategy.”
The Lakers continued having bother holding onto the ball, and by the tip of the third quarter had dedicated 19 turnovers that led to 22 Memphis factors. That helped the Grizzlies carry an 85-78 lead into the fourth.
By the tip of the sport, Memphis pressured 22 Los Angeles turnovers.
“Defensively, I believed we had been actually good. We simply turned the ball over,” James stated. “Once you maintain a group to 108 factors and 27 of these got here off turnovers, the protection was actually good. Offensively, we weren’t good in any respect.”
Memphis opened the fourth quarter on a 9-2 run, pushing the result in double-digits for the primary time for both group. With that spurt, Memphis prolonged its result in 94-80. Los Angeles by no means obtained its deficit to single digits.
The Grizzlies had been with out main scorer Ja Morant and their high defender, Dillon Brooks, who’re in well being and protocol safety. That put Memphis at a personnel drawback.
“I didn’t know what we had been going to appear to be,” Bane stated of studying about an hour earlier than the sport that Brooks was out. He stated the Grizzlies have had video games during which they didn’t have the gamers individually, however not each lacking.
“One factor I did know was that we had been going to combat, regardless,” Bane stated. “Earlier than the sport began, I informed all people to have enjoyable. Simply do what we do and have enjoyable enjoying the sport.”
