One week after the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in a dominant win, the two teams will meet again on Wednesday.
This time, the game is being played in Los Angeles, and it will feel quite different from their previous matchup, where Memphis won easily 131-114.
Ja Morant, who scored 20 points in that victory, left the game in the third quarter due to a hip injury and hasn’t played since. He is currently listed as week-to-week and there is no set date for his return.
Even without Morant, Memphis has continued to perform well. The Grizzlies have won their last two games, averaging 131 points per game.
The most recent win came on Sunday, when they crushed the Portland Trail Blazers 134-89. Jaren Jackson Jr. led the team with 20 points, and seven Grizzlies scored in double figures.
The 45-point win was the fourth-largest margin of victory in Memphis franchise history. It was also the third straight game where Memphis had seven players score in double digits, all of which were wins. Jay Huff tied a franchise record for bench players with six blocked shots, and the Trail Blazers struggled with their shooting, making only 4 of 42 three-pointers (9.5%).
Despite missing Morant, the Grizzlies also played without Desmond Bane (oblique) and Marcus Smart (ankle) in the win over Portland. Coach Taylor Jenkins emphasized that Jaren Jackson Jr. should still be the primary offensive focus for the team, no matter who is on the floor.
On the other hand, the Lakers are coming off a rough 1-4 road trip but have improved since returning home. Los Angeles beat the Philadelphia 76ers 116-106 on Friday and followed it up with a 123-103 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday. LeBron James had his third triple-double of the season in the win against Toronto, with 19 points, 16 assists, and 10 rebounds.
Anthony Davis scored 22 points in the win over Toronto but had to leave in the third quarter after being poked in the eye. He is expected to play against the Grizzlies on Wednesday.
“I don’t need to do anything,” Davis said about his injury. “The next step is getting some more sleep and getting ready for Memphis.”
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell, who was moved to a bench role after some struggles earlier in the season, missed practice on Tuesday due to illness. Although the Lakers had a tough time on the road, they are perfect at home so far, with a 5-0 record.
LeBron James, who has been criticized at times in his career for not being assertive in some late-game situations, continues to enjoy helping his teammates succeed. Even after 22 seasons, he still finds satisfaction in setting up his teammates for easy baskets.
“That’s always been my basketball pleasure, being able to just kind of read the game and put the ball, like I said, for guys to just be able to just catch, shoot, layup, dunk, whatever it is,” James said. He is currently averaging 23.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.9 assists, just a couple of months away from turning 40.
