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The Los Angeles Lakers are trending in the wrong direction.
Los Angeles fell to 4-4 overall and 1-4 in its last five games with Wednesday’s 131-114 defeat to the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Memphis is 5-4 after its third win in the last four and largely cruised in this one against a Lakers team that was without Anthony Davis (heel) and Rui Hachimura (illness).
Ja Morant helped spearhead the win with 20 points, five assists and four rebounds, although he left in the second half with a right hamstring injury and did not return with the game well in hand.
As for the Purple and Gold, LeBron James was an ageless wonder and stuffed the stat sheet with 39 points, seven rebounds and six assists on 15-of-24 shooting from the field and 6-of-11 shooting from deep. It was far from enough, though, as the rest of the visitors went a combined 9-of-37 from three-point range and struggled to provide any meaningful help.
James can at least take solace knowing social media had plenty of love for his performance:
With Davis and Hachimura sidelined, James wasted no time seizing control of the offense as he poured in 22 points in the first half alone.
He even unleashed a “too small” celebration on Morant after scoring over the guard, although the Grizzlies star answered with a basket of his own and received a technical foul for shoving James.
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
Bron hit the ‘too little’ on Ja and a couple plays later Ja returned the favor 🍿
Got a tech after shove 👀 pic.twitter.com/MJyQKpJC5z
It was more of the same for the 39-year-old after intermission, as he hit from beyond the arc and overpowered Memphis’ wings when driving to the basket.
Still, the Lakers found themselves down by double digits for much of the second half with the supporting cast going quiet for extended stretches. Only D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves were in double figures heading to the fourth from that group, and even they struggled with their efficiency.
It wasn’t all good news for the Grizzlies, though, as Morant went to the locker room with the hamstring injury after he was undercut on a lob attempt. There was no need to bring him back and risk further injury as the home team quickly put the game away in the fourth quarter.
Los Angeles will look to bounce back Friday when it hosts the Philadelphia 76ers.
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