Lakers star center Anthony Davis believes that the team will need to rely on its toughness when they face the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday night.
The Lakers struggled with this on Friday, losing 97-87 to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Davis scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds but also committed four of Los Angeles’ 22 turnovers, which was a season-high.
After watching his team fail to take a lead against Minnesota, Davis is focused on ensuring that the Lakers bring more intensity in their next game against Memphis.
“Being physical,” Davis said when asked how Los Angeles was going to compete with the Grizzlies. “We’re playing a physical team, and they’ll try to create turnovers with their physicality and disruption on the ball, passing lanes, things like that.”
Davis is also hoping for a much cleaner performance than what the Lakers showed on Friday.
“Once we take care of the basketball and get some ball movement and body movement, we’ll be able to score,” Davis said. “But we can’t have 22 turnovers like we did (against the Timberwolves).”
Superstar LeBron James is at risk of missing his third straight game for the Lakers as he continues to recover from a left foot injury. James, 39, is averaging 23.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game this season and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.
James has averaged 37.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 10.0 assists in two games against Memphis this season. The Grizzlies and Lakers have split those matchups, with Los Angeles winning the most recent one 128-123 on November 13.
Since then, Memphis has been playing very well, going 11-3 over their last 14 games.
“We are making progress and developing right now, and I’m definitely excited where this group has trended the past couple weeks,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said earlier this week. “Are we going to maintain our pace? We’ve been committed to relying on our depth.
“Defensively, we’ve had progress in our pick-and-roll coverages and our one-on-one defense has improved. But it’s all about consistency. That’s the thing we’ve talked with the team about over this stretch.”
Memphis has been on a strong run, winning four straight games, including a 127-121 road win over the defending champion Boston Celtics. The Grizzlies also won 135-119 against the Nets on Friday.
Ja Morant led Memphis against Brooklyn with 28 points, seven rebounds, and 10 assists, while Desmond Bane had 21 points. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Santi Aldama each added 20 points.
“We’ve got to be proud of (the recent improvements),” Aldama said ahead of a four-day break before the win over the Nets. “Use this time off and then get back to work… Use these practice days to our advantage, and kind of crack down on things we need to get better at.”
Big men Zach Edey (ankle) and Jay Huff (knee) are questionable for Memphis on Sunday, as is guard Marcus Smart (knee).
