On Sunday, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers put on an incredible display, defeating the Memphis Grizzlies in a thrilling overtime matchup. The Lakers currently have a commanding 3-1 lead in the first round of the NBA playoffs with a final score of 123-118.
Throughout the first four quarters of the game, both sides traded blows in a back-and-forth struggle. The Grizzlies battled hard and managed to tie it up in the waning minutes of regulation despite the Lakers having a slight advantage for the majority of the game. LeBron James stepped up and hit a crucial three-pointer to give the Lakers a three-point lead with the game on the line.
The Grizzlies wouldn’t give up, though, and they responded with a three-pointer of their own to tie the contest and force overtime. The Lakers outscored the Grizzlies 12-7 to win the game in overtime thanks to their maturity and expertise on the court.
LeBron James once again stole the show
LeBron James once again stole the show, scoring 34 points, adding 7 rebounds, and dishing out 10 assists. With 25 points and 9 rebounds, Anthony Davis put out a strong effort, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope chipped in 20 points off the bench. Ja Morant had a strong performance for the Grizzlies with 33 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists.
The victory puts the Lakers one win away from making it to the second round of the playoffs. On Tuesday, they will have a chance to finish the series at home. They will be a difficult out for any team in the playoffs if they can keep up their level of play and perform well down the stretch.
With bodies flying around the court at breakneck speed and every possession fought over as if it would be the final one of the 2022–23 season, the Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies resumed hostilities in Game 4 of their heated first-round playoff series.
LeBron James sent the game into overtime with a driving layup with 0.8 seconds left in regulation, after the Grizzlies’ Desmond Bane had given his team the lead with a layup with 6.7 seconds left. The regular 48 minutes were not enough to settle what loomed as a vital game.
James then put the Lakers over the top in overtime with a driving layup, a scream, and a flex, scoring the final of his team-high 22 points to lift the Lakers to a 117-111 victory and a 3-1 series lead. With 29.4 seconds left, his basket erupted, sending the sellout crowd of 18,997 into a frenzy.
James had 20 rebounds for the first time in his career, making him the first Laker since Shaquille O’Neal on June 13, 2004, to have a 20-point, 20-rebound game in the playoffs. In his record-setting 270th playoff game, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer added seven assists and two blocked shots while making just one turnover. In 45 minutes of frantic action that brought the Grizzlies to the verge of collapse, James went 8 for 18 from the field but just 1 for 7 from beyond the arc.
However, the Lakers’ triumph was by no means a one-man show.
Russell had 17 points, and Austin Reaves scored a team-high 23 points. Anthony Davis had 12 points (five in overtime) and 11 rebounds, Jarred Vanderbilt had 10 of his 15 points in the first quarter, and Dennis Schroder provided 12 points and constant defensive pressure on Morant in a reserve role.
The Lakers’ victory over the Grizzlies came after a tough contest that highlighted the strengths and shortcomings of both teams. The Grizzlies showed that they are a young, talented team that will only become better with time, while LeBron James and company once again demonstrated that they have what it takes to compete at the greatest level. It will be intriguing to see how these two teams and the rest of the league handle in the high-stakes environment of postseason basketball as the playoffs unfold.