Austin Reaves had 31 points, eight assists and seven rebounds to help the Los Angeles Lakers earn a 134-127 victory over the host Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night.
Luka Doncic recorded 29 points, nine assists and eight rebounds for the Lakers (45-29), who won their second game in three outings and wrapped up a four-game road trip. LeBron James added 25 points, eight dimes and six boards, while Gabe Vincent contributed 15 points off the bench, starter Rui Hachimura scored 13 and reserve Dorian Finney-Smith chipped in 11.
Memphis (44-30), playing in its first game since firing head coach Taylor Jenkins on Friday, was led by Desmond Bane’s 29 points. Assistant coach Tuomas Iisalo is serving as interim head coach.
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 24 and Ja Morant recorded 22 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. Reserve Scotty Pippen Jr. added 16 points, starter Zach Edey tallied a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double, and starter Jaylen Wells had 11 points as the Grizzlies lost their fifth game in six tries.
After trailing by 11 at halftime, Memphis opened the third quarter on a 16-4 run, with Bane’s 3-pointer giving the Grizzlies their first lead of the game. Reaves’ trey, Doncic’s three-point play and James’ layup then gave the Lakers an 84-77 edge with 7:38 left in the third.
With just over a minute remaining in the quarter, Reaves’ fifth 3-pointer extended the Lakers’ cushion to eight. Morant’s floater in the final seconds pulled the Grizzlies within three entering the final quarter.
A Hachimura trey gave the Lakers a 107-105 edge, but Jackson, Morant and Edey each recorded baskets to give Memphis its largest lead at four with 8:35 remaining. James’ stepback jumper and thunderous dunk then began the Lakers’ 13-4 run to take a 120-115 advantage with 4:08 left.
Hachimura’s layup and Reaves’ three-point play at the 1:21 mark sealed Los Angeles’ victory.
Los Angeles finished the first quarter on an 8-2 run — including Jarred Vanderbilt’s dunk and Finney-Smith’s 3-pointer to give the Lakers a 39-28 lead.
Edey’s dunk cut the Grizzlies’ deficit to nine to start the second quarter, but Vincent knocked down back-to-back triples to begin the Lakers’ 11-0 run, pushing the lead to 50-30.
Trailing 57-39, the Grizzlies used an 8-0 spurt, stamped with Pippen 3-pointer, to pull within six at the 5:16 mark. Doncic then scored five of Los Angeles’ 9-0 run, as the Lakers built a 72-61 halftime-lead.
