MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – LeBron James had 37 points (including the last six points) and 10 rebounds and Anthony Davis had 36 points as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the short-handed Memphis Grizzlies 123-120. and recorded 14 rebounds. Friday night.
Davis, who missed the Lakers' loss to Golden State on Tuesday due to an injury to his left eye, went 11-of-22 from the field. James had 13 hits for 20 at bats, helping the Lakers end a two-game losing streak.
“I felt good. No problems,” Davis said. “It felt so good up there.”
GG Jackson led the Grizzlies with 31 points, and Scottie Pippen Jr. scored a career-high 28 points. Jake LaRabia also had 28 points and Jordan Goodwin added 23 points and 16 rebounds.
Pippen added five rebounds, six assists and four steals to his tally.
“He put his body on the line, he staked his line,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said of Pippen, adding, “(He) was really impressive.” This was one of his best matches all season. ”
Memphis led 99-98 early in the fourth quarter and it was still a close game. LaRabia made two free throws with 1:06 left, giving Memphis a 118-117 lead. But James scored on the drive, then on either side of two free throws, and Los Angeles pulled away.
James played just under 41 minutes and Davis nearly 43 minutes. But Lakers coach Darvin Ham said he wasn't concerned about how well his two leading scorers played. Because “we all understand what's at stake.”
“I'm not worried about that at this point,” Hamm said. “You're worried about securing the victory you came for. …Everyone knows what time it is. It's that time of year again. You know, no matter how long we have to push the players, we have to get it and they understand that.”
The Lakers are already certain to advance to the Western Conference play-in round of the postseason, and are competing for position. The Lakers started the day in a three-way tie with Sacramento and Golden State for eighth through 10th place. The Kings and Warriors played late Friday night.
After advancing from the play-ins last season, Los Angeles sent the second-seeded Grizzlies and Warriors to the Western Conference Finals, but the Lakers were the conference's top seed and eventual NBA champion Denver. was swept by.
“Every game is important. Every species is important,” James said. “You can't play on the past no matter where you fall. You can't say you're much better off now than you were as a No. 1 seed. That would be a lie. Seeds matter and no matter where you fall, you accept the challenge. It is.”
Memphis, on the other hand, just limps to the finish line in an injury-riddled season. As in previous games, the Grizzlies had more players on injured reserve who did not dress (13) than players who played in the game (8).
The Grizzlies' patchwork rotation, consisting primarily of two-way players and 10-day contracts, matched Los Angeles throughout the game. Only James' push in the final moments, including a breakaway dunk with 5.2 seconds left, clinched the Lakers' victory.
“My focus heading into the game was to play hard,” Pippen said. “We knew they were playing for something, but they probably thought we were playing for free. But a lot of the players here are playing for their chances. That's our motivation.”
next
Lakers: End the regular season at New Orleans on Sunday.
Grizzlies: Host Denver in the season finale on Sunday.
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