MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – The Grizzlies’ stars finally played well together in the same game, and Desmond Bean Already planning to go back for another tip Sunday in Memphis.
Even with Game 6 on the horizon Friday night in Los Angeles, the Grizzlies have yet to win this season or this series.
Bean scored 33 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as a two-time All-Star I’m Morant Adding 31 points and 10 boards, the Grizzlies avoided elimination Wednesday night, defeating the Lakers 116-99 to forceWestern Conference Series First RoundBack to Los Angeles.
“I said it there, and I’ll say it again,” said Bean. “We’re going back for Game 7 in front of the best fans in the NBA.”
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Morant missed Memphis’ final sixth game a year ago in the Western Semifinals, the A.JLosing streak at Golden State. Asked what it would take to get the Grizzlies back for another game,MorantHe has a short answer.
Morant said, whoSupermax signed a five-year contract this past summer.
Garren Jackson JrNBA Defensive Player of the Yearking18 pointsand 10 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who improved to 5-0 in Game 5 in Memphis and cut the seventh-seeded Lakers’ lead to 3-2. Memphis has its second straight by posting the NBA’s best home run record at 35-
“Obviously, it was a win or homecoming,” said Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins.
LeBron James He started 1 of 7 from the court but finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds. It was a modest follow-up after the 38-year-old played 45 minutesMonday night overtime win in Los AngelesAnd he became the oldest player in NBA history to score at least 20 points and 20 rebounds in his 270th career game.
This time, James played 37 minutes and was the first base coach Darvin Hamm to pull it off as the Grizzlies dominated.
“We made eye contact with him,” Hamm said. “We had a non-verbal discussion. It was about time. We’ll need it big on Friday.”
James said he didn’t know how Friday night would feel now that the series was a biannual game with travel on non-Fridays.
“I’ll take care of the body,” said James. “Try to sleep as much as I can. See how quickly the body can recover and get ready for Friday.”
Anthony Davis He led the Lakers with 31 points and 19 rebounds. Austin Reeves scored 17 points and D’Angelo Russell had 11.
The Lakers tried to rally with a 20-7 lead in the fourth round. They couldn’t get any closer than the 12th, and the latter was down by Davis with 2:52 left. Memphis responded with an eight in a row causing the fans to chant “Whoop That Trick” with nearly 90 seconds left.
“This run at the end of the third period, he kind of got away with it,” said Davis, who promised he would be ready to play the 48 minutes if needed in game six.
Memphis only led 23-20 when Jenkins beat Dillon Brooks,Known more for calling James old and missed shots than for his defense in this series. The Grizzlies seized control, finishing with a 15-4 run capped off by Bane’s 3 just before the quarter ended for a 38-24 lead.
The Grizzlies led as many as 17 in the second and Morant scored 10, includingDraw a foul on James for a three-point play. Memphis led 61-52 at halftime.
Russell scored the first eight of the Lakers’ third goal to quickly turn it into a one-point game. James, who had nine in the quarter, hit two free throws that pulled Los Angeles up 75-74 with 4:36 left.
Memphis responded with a 26-2 lead that lasted into the fourth period. Morant had 11 in the third quarter and finished the quarter with consecutive substitutes. His final drive put the Grizzlies up 94-76 going into fourth.
Bane capped off the surge with a three-point play to take a 101-76 lead that the Lakers could not overcome.
Tip-ins
Lakers: Lost for the fourth time in the last 17 games. … they came after outscoring bench seat Memphis 119-79 thanks to 72 points from Rui Hachimura. But the striker made two quick mistakes early on and played just five minutes of the first half. He finished with nine points, and the seats matched each other with 18 each.
Grizzlies: They’ll have to prove they can win in Los Angeles to force the third Game 7 in franchise history and first since 2014. They lost their only regular season game in Los Angeles before dropping Games 3 and 4, though the Grizzlies lost six in overtime Monday night.
Plank battle
Making double-doubles by Bane and Morant all the more necessary is that Memphis does not have veteran center Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke retained due to injuries. The Lakers won the rebound battle 54-52, but Jenkins got what he wanted after challenging his guards to get more on the ball.
“These guys have that and coming up with double-doubles is really impressive,” Jenkins said of Bane and Morant. “We need more. We need better.”
Kennard’s shoulder
Luke Kennard, the NBA’s MVP with three points the past two seasons, finished with six. He hurt his shoulder on screen and went to the locker room after playing over 17 minutes. Jenkins said Kennard had a needle that could be assessed.
The Memphis coach used Kennard as part of a small lineup that included him, Morant, Tyus Jones, and Bane, and got the two best 3-point shooters on the court together the most. That early start helped as Memphis took a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
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