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Lakers-Grizzlies Game 4: LeBron James Dominates and Delivers a Win for Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Lakers outlasted the Memphis Grizzlies and eked out a 117-111 overtime victory in an absolute nailbiter. Game 4 was emblematic of the Grizzlies’ Grit-n’-Grind ethos despite the Lakers’ victory, as neither team shot better than 28% from three.

Can Memphis win Game 5 and extend this series?

Lakers-Grizzlies Game 4: LeBron James Dominates and Delivers a Win for Los Angeles

Lakers-Grizzlies Game 4: First Half

Memphis started the game with more urgency on their 6-0 run. Jarred Vanderbilt stepped up with 10 points (including two threes) and a sensational block on Jaren Jackson Jr. Memphis still ignored Vanderbilt in the half-court, but the Lakers’ transition attack helped earn them a 29-23 lead heading into the second quarter.

The Lakers’ momentum continued in the second quarter. Dennis Schröder blew by Luke Kennard on switches to glid for a layup and set up a three from Malik Beasley. Later on, Anthony Davis was hurt going for a layup. Referee John Goble incensed the Laker bench by letting Memphis inbound the ball, which forced Los Angeles to commit a transition take foul. Jeanie Buss immediately called Mark Cuban for tips on filing a protest with the NBA.

LeBron James made his presence felt with a layup after a decisive cut and two blocks on Xavier Tillman Sr. and Desmond Bane in one minute.

The Lakers were up 44-30 with 6:22 in the second when David Roddy hit a three. Memphis gained an offensive rhythm as the teams traded buckets. The Lakers went cold, scoring just one point in the final four minutes of the quarter despite generating quality shots. A late Bane three cut the Lakers’ lead to two at halftime.

Lakers-Grizzlies Game 4: Second Half

The third quarter started with rhythmic, flowing offense for both teams, which starkly contrasted the rest of the game. Ja Morant, in particular, was spectacular while picking the Lakers apart. He continued to make his presence felt with paint attacks despite reinjuring his right hand, including a slicing one-hand stuff to end the third. The Grizzlies led 83-81 to start the fourth quarter.

Bane took control of the game to start the fourth. Bane showed the entire arsenal: he lofted layups over Davis, made midrange pull-ups off the dribble, and drained a sidestep three after an offensive rebound. Suddenly, D’Angelo Russell erupted for three straight threes in one minute of game time to keep the Lakers alive. Jackson had a massive block on Rui Hachimura that led to a Bane transition layup, giving Memphis a 104-102 lead with 6.7 seconds left.

The Lakers responded by isolating James, and the NBA’s all-time scoring leader delivered. He went one-on-one against Tillman and gained a step. James lowered his shoulder, sped to the rim, and lofted a layup through Tillman and Jackson to force overtime. 

Fatigue set in for both teams in the extra period. The Lakers took an early lead off driving layups from James and Davis while both teams piled up turnovers. Dillon Brooks stole the ball from Schröder and threw down a dunk to cut the Lakers’ lead to one with 1:22 left. Davis answered with a layup, and the Lakers forced a miss from Morant. James beasted for an and-one layup with 29 seconds left, and his team led by five after he missed the free throw. 

The Lakers held on to seal a 117-111 victory and earn a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Grizzlies.

Game 5 Preview: Can the Grizzlies Survive?

This was a disheartening loss for Memphis. Their five starters each exceeded 40 minutes in the overtime contest, as Brooks and Jackson avoided foul trouble. Bane was transcendent while finishing with 36 points, and Roddy added two threes and respectable defense on James. One could feel the absence of Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke acutely in this game, and it seemed as though Taylor Jenkins started to run out of players he trusted.

Jenkins might need to embrace the reality of his roster and lean more heavily into small ball. Game 2 aside, Tillman isn’t an offensive threat that concerns the Lakers, and his defense is more solid than exceptional. Giving Tyus Jones (just nine minutes in Game 4), Kennard, or Roddy some of those minutes could help space the floor for Morant’s drives. 

Jenkins also started Game 4 with Morant guarding Austin Reaves. He is using the person guarding Vanderbilt as a help defender, so Morant can’t hide there. Perhaps Morant could conserve more energy guarding the probing and patient Russell instead. Reaves has proven to be a more dynamic, hard-charging driver and has a knack for drawing fouls. Morant needs to conserve as much energy as possible for offense.

The Last Word

 

Michael Love, Associate Editor

Michael Love, Associate Editor

Michael Love is a basketball and volleyball coach who's written for Last Word on Sports since April 2022. He's a lifelong Warriors fan (seriously; as a kid, the highlight of his fandom was Jason Richardson's back-to-back Slam Dunk contest wins) who lets his passion for the game influence how he covers every team. A NorCal native, he has a soft spot for Sacramento Kings basketball as well.

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