Quick Recap: Ja’s masterpiece wasn’t enough in Hollywood

Déjà vu.

Once again, the Memphis Grizzlies find themselves in a familiar position after the first two games.: tied 1-1. Questions surrounded both teams entering tonight. Will Ja Morant play? How will LeBron respond to Dillon the Villian? Can Jaren Jackson Jr. stay aggressive, while staying out of foul trouble? Will Anthony Davis assert his dominance?

Those questions and more will be answered. A pivotal game 3 awaits in Hollywood.

1st Quarter

The answer to the first question was given early. Ja Morant started after missing Game 2 with a wrist injury. After he missed his first shot attempt, it was all Lakers early. LeBron started aggressively and Austin Reaves finished at the rim giving the Lakers an early 0-6 lead. 12 gave Memphis its first two points with a fast break lay-up.

12 🥷 pic.twitter.com/fskksBnyfK

— Bally Sports: Grizzlies (@GrizzOnBally) April 23, 2023

Other than that finish, nothing was going well for the Grizzlies. They started flat going 1-11 from the field and taking questionable shots. LA opened up a 18-2 advantage with 6:13 in the quarter.

But the nightmare in Hollywood just wouldn’t stop. An Anthony Davis slam forced Coach Jenkins to call his 2nd timeout. Lakers led 24-7

The ball movement and fluidity of the Grizzlies’ offense in Game 2 was non-existent so far. Iso-ball isn’t going to win many games for Memphis. To make matters worse, the defensive rotations were off giving the Lakers basically everything they wanted. One word describes the rest of the 1st for Memphis: pathetic.

Consider the bear awake. 35-9 after one.

2nd Quarter

Not much changed as the 2nd got underway. Memphis finally hit double digits with a Desmond Bane tip in. Then Luke Kennard hit a jumper. But if the Grizzlies were to somehow get back in the game, it had to start on the defensive end. However, LA continued to score at will increasing the lead to 30, 47-17

You read that right. Memphis was down 30 with 6:54 in the half. At this point, it would be a massive win to get the lead under 20 at half.

Memphis took a baby step towards that with a quick burst cutting the lead to 24.

Ja with a triple and he has a team high nine tonight as LA calls for time. pic.twitter.com/YIKFmMw0Dd

— Bally Sports: Grizzlies (@GrizzOnBally) April 23, 2023

A Dillon Brooks lay-up cut it to 22. Though quick buckets from the Lakers briefly halted the momentum, back-to-back-to-back triples from Ja, Dillon, and Santi Aldama cut the lead to 18. Two free-throws from 12, and the Grizzlies ended the half on a 13-1 run. The Lakers lead is only 16. Starting the 3rd quarter strong would be paramount.

3rd Quarter

Any hope of a comeback dwindled after a flagrant 2 was issued to Dillon Brooks for a hit to LeBron James’s groin. Regardless of the severity, intent, or force of Dillon’s contact, the precedent wasn’t in his favor.

Following Dillon’s ejection, Desmond Bane hit a needed triple. Then a bit of chaos ensued. After Anthony Davis missed an alley-oop slam, neither team could corral possession of the ball. This ultimately resulted in AD diving into the crowd, Jaren Jackson Jr. getting the ball, and Austin Reaves fouling JJJ. Though there was clearly blood on AD’s bottom row of teeth, he stayed in the game.

A vintage LBJ slam pushed LA’s lead back to 21. Though Memphis trimmed that lead to 15, the Lakers responded with a 6-0 run.

While Ja was clearly hobbled as a ball-handler, his scoring was keeping the Grizzlies in the game. He couldn’t do it alone though. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane were mostly ineffective offensively. However, they woke up with two straight threes making LA’s lead 13.

DEUCE DEUCE 🎯

Lead is down to 13 👀 pic.twitter.com/7vpCjIprj1

— Bally Sports: Grizzlies (@GrizzOnBally) April 23, 2023

But that’s as close as Memphis got in the 3rd. Just like before, the Lakers responded to the Memphis run.

Memphis 68, Los Angeles 88 after three.

4th Quarter

The lead teetered between 21 and 17 for the first few minutes of the fourth. Then Ja Morant had something to say hitting his fourth three of the game.

94-80 with 6:55 left.

Knocking on the door again 👀

Fourth triple of the night for @JaMorant and the lead is down to 14. pic.twitter.com/FcGlEdHg50

— Bally Sports: Grizzlies (@GrizzOnBally) April 23, 2023

After an AD put-back slam, Ja raced down the floor for an and-1 finish. But LA answered with 5 quick points. Austin Reeve’s three felt like the dagger.

12 tried to keep the Grizz in it though. Ja freakin Morant scored 22 straight Memphis Grizzlies points.

TEN POINT GAME pic.twitter.com/RY79ILnOoM

— Bally Sports: Grizzlies (@GrizzOnBally) April 23, 2023

22 straight. He lined up a straightaway three to cut the Laker lead to 8. But he left it short. Then LeBron got a friendly foul call and knocked down his free throws.

That’s all she wrote. Ja was spectacular. But he didn’t have the help needed to complete the comeback.

Memphis 101, Los Angeles 111.

Game 4 is Monday night. It’s not a must-win. But it sure feels like it. Keep the faith.