A despite the low Ja Morantlos Grizzlies they won 103-93 to the Lakers in the second game of the first round of the playoffs, which leaves the series tied 1-1in a physical exhibition meeting of those from Memphis.
The locals came out from the first second to play a tough game and not let the Lakers surprise them again, as happened on Sunday when the Angelenos prevailed 112-128 in Memphis.
Xavier Tillman had an almost perfect night with the Grizzlies, with a double-double of 22 points and 13 rebounds, in addition to three assists. The center scored 10 of the 13 field goals he attempted, with a two-shot three-pointer from beyond the three-point line.
Your partner J.aren Jackson Jr. also had 18 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks. While Desmond Bane added 17 points and 4 rebounds.
First win in the NBA Playoffs for Spanish Santi Aldama
The Spanish Santi Aldama, who won his first playoff game in his short NBA career, played 14.23 minutes, in which grabbed 7 rebounds (3rd best rebounder for Memphis) and dished out 2 assists.
LeBron James could not avoid the loss of the Lakers in Memphis
The top scorer of the match was the incombustible LeBron James. The veteran player made a double-double with 28 points and 12 reboundsin addition to 3 assists and 1 block to Luke Kennard that resounded throughout the FedexForum in Memphis.
Rui Hachimura, although he did not repeat his exceptional performance on Sunday, when he added 29 points, was the second leading scorer for the Lakers with 20 points, in addition to five rebounds and two assists.
This is how the Grizzlies played without the injured Ja Morant
With Morant on the bench dressed as street clothes, after injuring his right hand in Sunday’s game, Tyus Jones was in charge of directing the attacking game of the Grizzlies.
The locals took to the court with aggressive defense and denied Anthony Davis’s first two basket attempts from the paint.
But the Lakers did not shrink, they responded with the same coin and Davis was in charge of blocking what could have been the first basket of the Grizzlies by applying a spectacular block to Bane. It would not be the last.
The Lakers center, who in the first half suffered an involuntary elbow from Bane that opened a gap in the eyelid of his right eye, would end the night with five blocks to his credit.
After the initial tug of war, the Grizzlies opened a small gap in the score, 14-7, in the first seven minutes of the game that would reach 11 points, 22-11, a minute later.
LeBron James, incombustible in the Lakers against the Grizzlies
Two 3-pointers by Hachimura and Malik Beasly initially cut the lead to five points, 24-19, but six straight points by Bane in the final 90 seconds left the first quarter at 30-19 for the Grizzlies.
In the second quarter, the locals continued to increase the lead on the scoreboard thanks to the inside play of Jackson Jr. and Tillman, who had assistance from the outside of Kennard.
Meanwhile, in the Lakers, James carried the weight of his team with seven points and defensive actions such as the block on Kennard. But without more support from his teammates, by halftime the Lakers had sunk a little more and were already 15 points behind, 59-44.
After the break, the Angels tried to recover when Memphis’ lead reached 20 points at 66-46.
The Lakers went on a 3-17 run, eight by James, that left them six points behind the Grizzlies, 69-63, with four minutes remaining in the third quarter.
The Grizzlies reacted after a timeout by their coach, Taylor Jenkins, and when the third quarter ended, the home team had a 12-point lead, 83-71, thanks to the performance of the bench, with David Roddy and Kennard scoring two triples in the last two minutes.
In the fourth quarter, the Grizzlies just needed to control the game. LeBron James did not give up on his efforts and had a few words with Brooks. But in the end, the locals prevailed by 10 points, 103-93.
Now, the third game of the series will be played by the two teams on Saturday in Los Angeles, perhaps with the presence of Morant on the court.
2023-04-20 03:30:06
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