Sports writing, Apr 26 (EFE).- The Grizzlies beat the Lakers 116-99 on Wednesday night and forced the sixth game of their playoff series thanks to the performance of Desmond Bane and Ja Morant, who contributed 64 points for your team.
The Lakers were unable to finish off the Grizzlies. They will have a new opportunity on Friday in Los Angeles, before their audience. But for now, the Grizzlies have left the series 3-2 in favor of the Los Angeles team thanks to the performance of Bane and Morant, who had similar statistics.
Both with a double-double. He had 33 points and 10 rebounds, plus five assists. Morant with 31 points and 10 rebounds to which he added seven assists. Jaren Jackson Jr. also had a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds.
And the Spanish Santi Aldama, in the almost 14 minutes he played, had an outstanding performance, with seven points, five rebounds and three assists as well as a steal.
For his part, the controversial Dillon Brooks only made eight points after 15 basket shots. And what was worse, the Lakers made their lack of respect for the Memphis player evident, who on many occasions was allowed to shoot freely to see how he repeatedly failed.
The Lakers had their best player in veteran Anthony Davis. Tireless throughout the game, the center concluded the night with a double-double of 31 points and 19 rebounds after playing 35 minutes.
His teammate LeBron James also had a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds. But James only had a 29% success rate from the field and an 11% three-pointer, of which he attempted nine and only scored one.
D’Angelo Russell had 11 points and 10 assists while Austin Reaves had 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
Out of options, the Grizzlies jumped onto the court ready to overwhelm the Lakers, using Bane as a battering ram. The Memphis guard was inspired: He hit both 3-pointers he attempted in the first quarter and missed just one of four 2-pointers he attempted.
Meanwhile, Morant pierced the Lakers’ defense with drives to the hoop with which he got his four baskets in the first quarter.
When the first 12 minutes were over, Bane already had 14 points and Morant 8.
For the Lakers, Davis was the one who raised the Los Angeles banner in the face of LeBron James’s lack of success in attack.
“King” James did not hit any of the three triples he tried and only scored one basket from two in that period.
Meanwhile, Davis multiplied. On defense he grabbed five rebounds and on offense he scored 9 points, including a triple. The one who came closest to him in the first quarter was Rui Hachimura, who from the bench scored the three shots he attempted.
That was the tone of the Lakers during the game. LeBron with more strength than success while Davis literally broke his back in both rings.
By the end of the first quarter, the Grizzlies were already up 14 points, 38-24. The Lakers lacked speed and the Memphis denied them second chances.
In the second quarter, Reaves woke up. After not scoring any points in the first 12 minutes, the guard began to connect baskets. With two 3-pointers and a basket and two free throws, he finished the second quarter with 10 points. Davis scored another nine points as Morant and Bane slowed down.
By halftime, the Lakers had cut the difference to nine points, 61-52, and were preparing the ground to turn the score around in the second half.
In the opening minutes of the third quarter, they nearly did. On three straight missed drives by the Grizzlies, D’Angelo Russell responded with two 3-pointers and a 2-pointer. The Lakers made a run of 0-8 and placed at 61-60.
Twice the Lakers moved within a point of the Grizzlies thanks to the temporary awakening of James and Russell.
James, who had only made one basket in the first half and missed two of four free throws, reacted as soon as he smelled blood in the water. In the third quarter he got 100% accuracy: a three-pointer, two 2-pointers and two free throws.
Russell for his part, made two triples of four attempts and, like LeBron, scored nine points in the period. But it was all a mirage.
After being 75-74, the Grizzlies had a 19-2 run that broke the spirit of the Lakers. The third quarter ended with the score at 94-76.
The Lakers’ response in the last 12 minutes was desperate. The first nine shots of the visitors were triples, of which they only scored two.
The Grizzlies’ lead shot up to 24 points, 106-84, and although the Lakers managed to cut it to 12, 106-94, the game was definitely lost for the Angelenos.
