Report Card – Grizzlies lose Game 4 in OT to Lakers in Hollywood Heartbreaker

The Memphis Grizzlies met the Los Angeles Lakers back at Crypto.com Arena Monday night for Game 4 of their first-round playoff matchup. After being on the losing side of the worst first-quarter deficit in NBA playoff history Saturday night, the Grizzlies were hoping to even up the series before heading back to Memphis for Game 5.

Early on, it looked like the Grizzlies were back to their brand of basketball. They opened up a 10-4 lead early in the first quarter. However, the Lakers then responded with a 14-5 run to end the quarter and held onto a six-point lead. The Lakers remained offensively lethal to start the second half and built up a 16-point lead with 4:16 left in the second quarter, but the Grizzlies then went on a 14-1 comeback run in large part due to Desmond Bane’s heroics to bring them to within 2 at the half, 52-54.

In the third, the Grizzlies got it going offensively with Ja Morant and Desmond Bane scoring nine a piece. Nevertheless, the Lakers continued to score on the other end with the star-studded duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. It was tied up to close the quarter until a magnificent buzzer-beating showtime slam from Ja Morant gave the Grizzlies a two-point lead, 83-81. 

JAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!@JaMorant | #BigMemphis pic.twitter.com/gqrRhBntXX

— Bally Sports: Grizzlies (@GrizzOnBally) April 25, 2023

This is Hollywood after all, so you know we’re in for a thrilling finish. Surprisingly, there was not much to show in the way of scoring. A lot of foul calls and high emotions led to a tightly contested fourth quarter. The Grizzlies stringed together a seven-point lead with about 5 minutes left in the game but the Lakers pulled themselves right back in with timely shots from deep from D’Angelo Russell. Desmond Bane drove in to give the Grizzlies a two-point lead with 6.7 seconds left but LeBron James then did LeBron James things he’s known for in the playoffs and muscled his way to the rim for a game-tying layup. Morant’s shot is blocked by Davis with 0.08 seconds left. Overtime.

The Lakers turned it over after the tip and Ja Morant stole the ball yet immediately turned it over. That one sequence pretty much described the rest of the Grizzlies’ night. The Lakers got it going early and led by four points early. A running dunk by Dillon Brooks helped the Grizzlies battle back but it was too late. LeBron James delivered another breathtaking finish to keep the up Lakers up five with under 30 seconds to go and that was game. The Memphis Grizzlies lose, 117-111.

The stars were out, so you know it was an entertaining night. Let’s dive in:

Ja Morant: C+ (19 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 8-24 FG, 1-6 3PT, +1 +/-)

After a superstar performance last Saturday that nearly willed Memphis back into the game, Ja Morant came out with a score-first mindset once again, but this time the baskets did not come as easily. He scored five quick points midway through the first but would then only score two points the rest of the first half. His handle looked the tightest it has been and he was able to speed dribble to navigate to his spots in the paint, but he failed to finish over taller Laker defenders collapsing onto him. His three-pointer also cooled off greatly after a hot Saturday night. Morant seemed to loosen up in the third and find a clearer path to the lane as he scored nine points with back-to-back showtime slams to end it, but in the fourth and overtime periods he once again could not finish on his drives to the rim and did not have the whistle rule in his favor.

While the superstar point guard undoubtedly fought hard and admirably, improper decision-making affected his ability to be the game-changer he has frequently been in the playoffs. Too often, it seemed like Morant tried to take it upon himself and force things instead of involving his teammates. He attacked the basket with reckless abandon too many times despite players being wide open for simple passes and in doing so, unnecessarily risked further injury to an already troubled hand. In addition, Morant looked out of place on the defensive end on numerous possessions that lead to easy buckets for Los Angeles. There’s no question Morant will look to get back to his star self next game.

Desmond Bane – B- (36 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 13-29 FG, 3-12 3PT, -4 +/-)

The ghost of Desmond Bane that had been present for much of this series got put to rest tonight. It did not seem that way at first; Bane still looked cold in the first quarter and struggled to hit shots both open and guarded. However, he started to catch fire in the second quarter as he found success downhill and started to find his shot to help bring Memphis back into the game. He scored 11 points and hit a huge three-pointer in the closing seconds of the second quarter to cut the deficit to just two. Bane did more of the same in the second half and scored 23 points to constantly keep the Grizzlies matching offensively as the Lakers continued to find success. He mainly found his way to the basket and hit a few three-point shots.

Overall, Desmond Bane provided a much-needed big game offensively, but he still had trouble hitting his patented three, going 3/12 overall from beyond. Bane stepped up tremendously at a time the Grizzlies needed production, but hopefully, he can start nailing more shots from deep to keep the Lakers’ defense honest and open up the paint. His shot selection and IQ also could improve; on multiple possessions, he went full steam ahead to the rim when he had teammates with open looks.

Jaren Jackson Jr – B- (14 points, 14 rebounds, 1 assist, 5-15 FG, 0-4 3PT, +1 +/-)

It’s not about how you start, it’s about about how you finish. And good thing Jaren Jackson Jr finished the game strong because early in the game, Jackson looked disengaged all-around. He could not get it going offensively with a packed interior, was not finding success with his three, and did not look very active on the floor. He came back around in the second half as he scored eight points and was crashing the boards on both ends to give Memphis more opportunities.

In the second half, Jaren Jackson Jr hit a cold spell on the offensive end but heated up defensively. He was aggressive on the rim and provided four blocks, many of which were in clutch game moments. In one sequence in the closing seconds of regulation, a clutch block from Jaren Jackson Jr gave way to a fastbreak push from Ja Morant leading to a smooth behind-the-back pass to Desmond Bane for an open layup.

YAAAAAAAAAAA MANE!!! pic.twitter.com/2ESWbc0xHu

— Bally Sports: Grizzlies (@GrizzOnBally) April 25, 2023

This was the definition of a two-faced performance from JJJ. Offensively, he seemed to lack aggression and was getting tied up with multiple Lakers’ bodies that intercepted him at the rim due to the Grizzlies’ poor shooting night. But defensively, he made highlight-level plays that show why he’s the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. He was also much more significantly composed down low and fought on the glass admirably with one of the game’s best big men in Anthony Davis. He reached a playoff game-high in rebounds with 14. 

The “Step-up Guys” (Xavier Tillman, David Roddy) – A-

I would be remiss to not mention some fantastic performances from the rest of the team tonight that kept it a competitive game. David Roddy provided intensity on both ends of the floor that the team had been lacking and made a big impact as a result. He scored nine points in the first half and provided a solid showing on the defensive end against one of the best in the game in LeBron James. While he did not provide much in the second half, his contributions in the first were vital in Memphis’ bounce back.

Xavier Tillman continues to do amazing things for this team and step-up where and when needed. That was especially the case tonight on the defensive side of things as he took the assignment on LeBron James and impeded his drives to force him into tough shots. Switched onto Anthony Davis, Tillman frustrated the star center by playing with quick, steady hands and feet and disrupting Davis’ space for lane drives or movements. Tillman was also a factor offensively, using his effectiveness in the short roll to find easy shots at the basket.

Team Grade: C+

It was a valiant, physical effort from the Memphis Grizzlies in a must-win playoff game, but poor decision-making and lack of offensive production late-game ultimately sealed their fate. The team’s inability to find and make quality shots all-around prevented them from ever taking this game away and defensively, far too often they allowed the Lakers to find their way to the rim for easy shots or take uncontested three-pointers.

Well, seems we’re at a crossroads. What happens next is entirely up to how the Grizzlies choose to respond with the series coming back in town Wednesday night for a do-or-die matchup. Everything is on the line now. No matter what happens, the Memphis Grizzlies must find a way to get back to what made them so successful during the regular season. This offense needs to get going quickly and early and defensively, stops need to be regularly pulled together to prevent deficits and push the pace. Can the 3-1 comeback be done? Now more than ever, Memphis, it’s time to BELIEVE again.