Lakers Secure Game 1 Win Against Grizzlies Despite Injury Scare and LeBron James Taking a Back Seat.
1. Introduction
The Los Angeles Lakers caused an upset in Game 1 of the NBA playoffs by defeating the Memphis Grizzlies 128-112 to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Despite LeBron James taking a back seat, and Anthony Davis suffering an injury scare, the Lakers managed to close out the win with a 15-0 run in the final minutes. Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves led the scoring effort for the Lakers game, while Grizzlies Ja Morant left the game in the fourth quarter with an injury.
Lakers Outpace Grizzlies in Rebounding and Shot Blocking
2. Injury Scare for Anthony Davis and Ja Morant's Exit
Anthony Davis gave Lakers fans an injury scare after sustaining an apparent shoulder injury in the first half. After halftime, Davis made a strong comeback, eventually finishing the game with an impressive stat line of 22 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 5 blocks. Meanwhile, Morant left the game late in the fourth quarter after a hard fall on his right hand. Though X-rays on Morant's hand were negative, he said his status for Game 2 is "in jeopardy."
3. Lakers Role Players Step Up
Despite LeBron James scoring 21 points, it was the Lakers' role players who stepped up in Game 1.
The Lakers shot 16-of-37 (43.2%) from beyond the arc, a significant improvement from their pre-midseason makeover struggles. Hachimura, who joined the Lakers in a trade with the Washington Wizards in January, put on a fantastic performance in Game 1, scoring a game-high 29 points with an impressive shooting percentage of 11-of-14 from the field and 5-of-6 from beyond the arc. In his first-ever playoff game, Reaves also stepped up for the Lakers, contributing 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range. The Lakers shot 16-of-37 (43.2%) from beyond the arc, a significant improvement from their pre-midseason makeover struggles.
4. Strong Performance from Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis put to rest any concerns about his shoulder injury, finishing the game with an impressive stat line of 22 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 5 blocks. He anchored the Lakers defense in the first half while repeatedly challenging Grizzlies shots in the post.
5. Lakers Outpace Grizzlies
The Lakers shot 53.3% from the field and won the rebounding margin 45-34, blocking 11 Grizzlies shots to just two from Memphis. Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with 31 points, while Desmond Bane added 22 points. The Grizzlies managed to shoot 47.2% from the field and 36.1% from beyond the arc.
As for Game 2, it is scheduled to take place on Wednesday in Memphis, and the Grizzlies will be aiming to prevent themselves from going down 0-2 in the series. Despite the strong performance from Lakers role players, the team will likely look to LeBron James to take a more active role in the upcoming game.
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