Los Angeles (USA), Apr 23 (EFE) they took on this series (2-1) after a game in which the controversial Dillon Brooks was sent off.
After his controversial statements in which he called LeBron James “old”, Brooks was greeted in Los Angeles with boos from the warm-up by some fans who whistled at each and every one of his actions before and during the match.
Brooks had a very discreet performance (7 points on a sad 3 of 13 shooting) and also went to the shower right at the beginning of the second half after hitting LeBron in the groin.
For their part, the Lakers signed a very serious and convincing performance, offered stretches of abrasive defensive intensity and disarmed some Grizzlies at unknown times due to their vulnerability and who suffered 31 points and 17 rebounds from Anthony Davis and 25 points and 9 rebounds from LeBron.
Five players surpassed 10 points in a Los Angeles team whose only “sin” was not closing the game before and getting carried away in the final stretch.
The enormous return of Ja Morant was of little use in Memphis, he doubts until the last minute due to his hand injury and who was the commander of the visitors caressing a prodigious triple-double (45 points, 9 rebounds and 13 assists) and scoring 24 of the 33 points of his team in the last quarter.
The Spanish Santi Aldama contributed 6 points and 2 rebounds to the visitors.
This was the first full-capacity Lakers playoff game in their stadium in 10 years.
In addition, the Lakers’ 35-9 matched the largest difference (+26) in a first quarter in playoff history.
AN OVERWHELMING START
The Lakers unleashed an overwhelming gale from the initial jump.
With the fans very involved in a night with the aroma of big events, the locals embroidered a gigantic 18-2 start with all the pieces fitting perfectly.
LeBron started with a knife in his mouth, Austin Reaves began to add as a secondary actor and D’Angelo Russell invented a three plus one, but from the beginning an impressive defense shone above all else that left the Grizzlies completely paralyzed.
The Lakers’ exhibition continued with a huge Davis under the rings with several dunks that burst the visitor’s ring and with a Rui Hachimura who entered the game from the bench wanting to conquer the world.
The statistics reflected only a part of the downpour that fell on Memphis in the first twelve minutes.
The Lakers left their rivals under 10 points, the Grizzlies crashed with a ridiculous 3 of 25 shooting from the field (1 of 13 on 3-pointers), Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane each closed the quarter with two fouls and Taylor Jenkins had to call three timeouts to try to stop -unsuccessfully- the purple and gold party.
The Lakers’ defensive fang continued in the second quarter with a fabulous series in which Troy Brown Jr. and Davis chained two blocks and Reaves cut off the Grizzlies’ attack with the Los Angeles public completely enamored with their team.
But the Grizzlies reacted taking advantage of the fact that the Lakers could not maintain such a rhythm for 48 minutes and Morant emerged with 12 points in that quarter alone to leave the Grizzlies very much alive at halftime (53-37) despite his 13 of 50 shooting from the field. in the first half.
The expulsion of Brooks as soon as the second part began marked a third quarter of partial for both.
LeBron showed off his power at 38 years old with two superb dunks and the Lakers stretched their lead to +21.
But the Grizzlies, now with Bane and Jackson Jr. recovered for the cause (11 points each in the third period), did not give up and came to be ‘only’ 14 points behind.
In any case, the star of the penultimate period was Davis, very fine in the paint and who marveled with 15 points in that quarter to lead the Lakers to the end with a very comfortable lead (88-68).
Even so, an indefatigable Morant charged once more.
The point guard scored 24 points in an extraordinary last quarter and chained a triple with a two plus one to put the Grizzlies just 10 points down with three minutes left, but the Lakers did not lose their cool and were able to seal the victory.
David Villafranca
