Game 4: 10/29/19 Grizzlies at Lakers GAME THREAD

[KobeMVP888]

(1-2) GRIZZLIES AT LAKERS (2-1)

Tuesday, October 29, 2019, 7:30 PM PDT
Staples Center • Los Angeles, CA

Referees: Tom Washington (#49), Brent Barnaky (#36), Jonathan Sterling (#17)

Replay Center: Sean Corbin, Matt Myers

Line: Lakers -12

National TV: NBATV Local TV: Spectrum SportsNet



GAME PREVIEW: GRIZZLIES AT LAKERS

by NBA.com

After earning their first win in impressive fashion, rookie point guard Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.

Morant scored 17 points in the fourth quarter and assisted on Jae Crowder's game-winning bucket at the buzzer, allowing the Grizzlies to post a 134-133 overtime victory over the visiting Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.

Morant forced the extra session by sinking a layup with seven seconds remaining. He also blocked a potential game-winning shot by Kyrie Irving near the end of regulation.

"It's just Ja," said Morant, referring to himself in the third person. Morant, the No. 2 pick of the 2019 NBA Draft out of Murray State, is averaging 18 points and six assists through three games.

"Just learning from the past two games and talking with my teammates and the coaches just told me I needed to stay aggressive whenever I'm in the game," he added. "That was what I was trying to do, just put pressure on the defense and make the right plays. Tonight, I felt like I had it going."

With 3.7 seconds remaining in overtime, Morant dribbled the length of the court before passing to Crowder, who nailed a 3-pointer for the victory.

Morant finished with 30 points and nine assists, joining Isiah Thomas (1981) and Trae Young (2018) as the only players to record those numbers or better in one of their first three games.

Dillon Brooks scored 21 points for the Grizzlies, who had seven players reach double figures.

The win was the first for Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins, whose team dropped its initial two contests to the Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls.

"What a game, huh? As the players said, I'm wearing it well right now," Jenkins said, according to NBA.com. "Heck of a game. Super proud of our group. Obviously, to get our first win of the season, it took a complete team effort. I'm just super proud of our guys."

The Lakers won their second straight contest on Sunday, a 120-101 victory over the visiting Charlotte Hornets. Anthony Davis scored 25 of his 29 points in the first half, and then LeBron James took over in the second half, racking up 16 of his 20 points. James also recorded 12 assists.

The performance reinforced the Lakers' belief that Davis and James will form an almost unstoppable duo.

"Just knowing that I'm probably gonna play the whole third (quarter) and then kind of sit a little bit through the fourth, I try to tell (James) like, 'This is your time. Just go and be you,'" said Davis, who also had 14 rebounds and three blocks. "And he's done it the past couple of games. So knowing that, I was able to relax a little bit."

Los Angeles also enjoyed a vintage outing from backup center Dwight Howard, who finished with 16 points, converting all eight of his field goal attempts, while adding 10 rebounds and four blocks.

"Dwight's shown bursts like that all throughout (training) camp," Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. "But tonight in particular, he was off the charts."

[lakerevolution]

Dwight and JaVale allowing AD to be who he really is bodes extremely well for LeBron because of his balance of scoring and assisting in the flow of being who he's been throughout his career. The more we can get from our new vets (and a 100% Kuz!), the less we have to rely on LeBron to be our savior - which should eliminate the need for "load management".

[lakerevolution]

We're letting them get good looks and they're shooting well. Just hit our first 3 after going 0-10. AD's shoulder is going to be an issue. AD to McGee for the monster jammm!!!! First lead of the night, 43-41.

[lakerevolution]

Bouncing between the game and the game . . . AD with 4 points in the last 30 seconds including a halftime buzzer-beater going solo in the paint! We gotta shoot better and find ways to defend against their picket fences. LeBron will probably come out on fire to take some pressure off AD's shoulder.

Game 7 tomorrow for all the marbles . . Washington is playing incredibly well.

[lakerevolution]

Finally a little space . . when the starting 5/Dwight are on the floor and running Vogel's offense, we look pretty effective. Kuzma is REALLY going to give this team a boost, so any wins we can get without him are a bonus. Dwight looks like a different guy out there, a steely beast with huge length and a five-foul arsenal. 78-67 with 2:00 left in the 3rd.

[lakerevolution]

BLEW THE GAME OPEN in that 3rd!!! Even though AD is having an historic night and shooting 99% from the FT line we as a team are shooting only 86% . . and under 16% from downtown. But we are kicking their asses. When Rondo and Kuz are back healthy, watch out. Our young bench guys are getting good minutes to build their arsenals. All is well in Lakerland tonight.

[3Peatkb24]

Davis 40 and 20 and 26-27 FT's. We are now 3-1, this is beautiful . We toyed with Memphis tonight.

[KobeMVP888]

Davis 40 and 20 and 26-27 FT's. We are now 3-1, this is beautiful . We toyed with Memphis tonight.

Staples Center is FUN again! Fun fact: Only one other player in NBA history went 40-20 with 26 made free throws - Wilt's 100 point game.

This team will round into shape. They are winning because of veteran talent and effort at the defensive end. One senses that Frank Vogel has his finger on the pulse of this team, but execution at both ends of the court, especially offense, as a long way to go. Meanwhile our +11.8 point differential leads the Association! Also, Dwight Howard's goofiness actually WORKS with the second unit and while he may be a goofy bonehead, he has a through the roof IQ defensively and on the glass, so don't let that goofiness fool you!