The same Memphis Grizzlies who self-anointed themselves as being “fine in the West” earlier this season now find themselves trailing 3-1 in their series against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. Using a James-led rally in the fourth quarter, the Lakers forced overtime and won Game 4 with 117-111 being the final score.
James attacked right to get to the rim for a game-tying layup with 0.8 seconds remaining in regulation. The finish was a tough play to execute over Defensive Player of the Year, Jaren Jackson Jr., rotating as a weak-side shot blocker to contest. James then scored four points in overtime, finishing with 22 points and 20 rebounds on the night — recording his first-ever 20-20 game. He even added seven assists and two blocks in what his Game 270 of his postseason career.
“I just try to be as great as I can be offensively, but more importantly on the defensive end,” James said. “That was the mindset tonight. I was able to make a couple of plays. … My teammates told me I had 20 and 20. It’s the first time I’ve done it in my career, so that’s pretty cool, I guess.”
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers & Memphis Grizzlies Updates
For the seventh-seeded Lakers, Austin Reaves scored 23 points, and Anthony Davis had five of his 12 points in overtime. Davis struggled to score efficiently as he finished 4-13 overall and 4-6 on free throws with four turnovers, but did a lot of the dirty work. He recorded 11 rebounds, four blocks, and two steals in 42 minutes.
“He just took over down the stretch,” Davis said of James. “Got us a bucket to get to overtime. … All our guys, it was a good team effort. This team is not going to go away.”
As D’Angelo Russell hit three consecutive 3-pointers in overtime, the Lakers rallied back from a seven-point deficit with five minutes left in regulation. He finished with 17 points on the night with all of his makes from beyond the arc occurring during this span.
“I’m so proud of our guys, the way we fought,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “We found a way.”
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers & Memphis Grizzlies Updates
To advance, the Grizzlies must overcome a 3-1 series deficit and win Game 7 for the first time in franchise history. Desmond Bane scored 36 points and hit the tiebreaking layup with 6.7 seconds left in regulation. Despite scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter, Bane failed to score in overtime, missing his only two attempts.
“Obviously, LeBron gets to his right hand, which can’t happen at the end of the game,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said. “Some breakdowns for us. Very disappointing loss.”
At the buzzer, Davis blocked Morant’s jumper with his injured right hand. A total of six of the Grizzlies’ first eight shots in overtime were missed while two key turnovers were made. As a result of his ejection from Game 3 for striking James in the groin, Brooks scored 11 points for Memphis.
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers & Memphis Grizzlies Updates
The Lakers led by five after 29.1 seconds in overtime, when James scored a huge layup in overtime over heavy defensive pressure. A five-year Lakers veteran was ecstatic after that shot, flexing and roaring at the ecstatic crowd.
“I’ve been a part of moments where you know you get a dagger play or a killshot,” James said. “I felt like that play — it wasn’t going to close the door, but there wasn’t much light at the end. I just let the emotion come out.”
As the Lakers won their 12th game in 15 games dating back to the regular season, Dennis Schroder and Austin Reaves each buried two free throws.
The Grizzlies couldn’t recover from a 29-point hole in Game 3 despite Morant’s 45 points in his first game back from an injury absence. A few moments before the quarter buzzer in Game 4, he dunked on Rui Hachimura, but he was clearly in pain after he again jammed the hand into the ground. Memphis is beaten up and backed up against a wall now.
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