Memphis Grizzlies run away with win over Lakers after smothering fourth quarter
The Memphis Grizzlies begin a three-game road trip with Friday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena.
The Grizzlies have lost four of five games, including Wednesday's home loss to the Toronto Raptors. Memphis is 5.5 games behind the Lakers for the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference.
The Lakers have lost nine of 12 games since winning the In-Season Tournament on Dec. 9 and fell below .500 on Wednesday with a home loss to Miami. Anthony Davis has been good during their slump, however, averaging 28.6 points and 12. 6 rebounds per game in 14 matchups.
Follow along with our live game updates below, with tip-off scheduled after 9 p.m. CT.
Grizzlies vs. Los Angeles Lakers live score updates
FINAL: Grizzlies 127, Lakers 113
What a tremendous second half for the Grizzlies, especially in the fourth quarter. Grizzlies outscore LA 33-19 in the fourth quarter.
Some stats....
Jaren Jackson Jr.: 31 points (11-of-14 shooting, 5-6 from 3), 9 rebounds, 3 blocks, 1 assist
Marcus Smart: 29 points (9-of-16 shooting, 8-14 from 3), 5 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal
Desmond Bane: 24 points (8-14 shooting, 5-8 from 3), 13 assists, 5 rebounds, 1 steal
Ja Morant: 21 points (7-of-17 shooting, 3-7 from 3), 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
Ziaire Williams: 15 points (6-of-11 shooting, 2-6 from 3), 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal
LeBron James had 31 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds and 5 steals on 11-of-24 shooting. Anthony Davis had 31 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Lakers fall to 11th in the West.
Grizzlies 119, Lakers 111 with 3:07 left fourth quarter: Ziaire Williams stepping up
Ziaire Williams has 10 fourth-quarter points, on two 3-pointers and two alley-oop dunks from Morant. Grizzlies are in control.
The lineup features Morant and Williams with Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart and Bismack Biyombo. Been that way for a couple minutes now after Jaren Jackson Jr. picked up his fifth foul.
That Ja x Z connection tonight tho 🥽@JaMorant | @Ziaire pic.twitter.com/gLPoqjNqMx
— Bally Sports: Grizzlies (@GrizzOnBally) January 6, 2024
Grizzlies 112, Lakers 105 with 5:33 left fourth quarter: JJJ taking over
Jaren Jackson Jr. is up to 31 points after five straight for the Grizzlies, including a 3-pointer over a slow-to-close LeBron James.
Jackson is 5-of-6 from 3, and he's found success switched up against James.
Grizzlies 103, Lakers 98 with 8:40 left fourth quarter: Grizzlies are running
A Ja Morant lob to Ziaire Williams for a dunk off a Lakers turnover produces an LA timeout. The Grizzlies lead by 5. This would be a very good road win if Memphis can close it out in the last eight minutes.
The Grizzlies' last two made baskets are off of Lakers turnovers.
End of the third quarter: Grizzlies 94, Lakers 94
Grizzlies have three plays with 20 or more points (Ja Morant with 21, Marcus Smart with 22, Jaren Jackson Jr. with 26) as the two teams are tied through three quarter. Morant hit back-to-back 3s to get the Grizzlies closer late in the third quarter.
Desmond Bane has 14 points and 12 assists, a career high.
Lakers 75, Grizzlies 75 with 6:21 left third quarter: Taylor Jenkins earns technical foul after stepping onto floor following LeBron no-call
Taylor Jenkins definitely earned this technical foul, for running out onto the floor following a LeBron James-Jaren Jackson Jr. scrum on the floor for a loose ball.
Both players were on the floor, wrestling for a loose ball. Jackson held James' arm, and James shoved Jackson in the throat with his arm to break free.
It all happened in front of the Grizzlies bench, and Jenkins was not happy. He was even less happy when he was given the technical foul; Jenkins had to be held back for several seconds while yelling and pointing at the officiating crew.
Somehow, Jenkins only got the one technical foul and stays on the bench.
Taylor Jenkins was heated 😳 pic.twitter.com/fSv8guXT8o
— ESPN (@espn) January 6, 2024
Meanwhile, it's 75-all before the technical free throws. Good start by the Grizzlies defense in the third quarter.
HALFTIME: Lakers 59, Grizzlies 58
Lakers led by nine with about 90 seconds left, but the Grizzlies finish on an 8-0 with 3-pointers by Marcus Smart and Desmond Bane.
Smart has 19 points on 5-of-8 shooting from 3 as the Lakers have either sagged off of him or used his defender to help elsewhere. Smart made them pay throughout the first half.
Jaren Jackson Jr. has 13 points, and Ja Morant has 11.
LeBron James has 18 points and 4 assists, while Anthony Davis has 16 points. Grizzlies defense limited the Lakers to 21 points in the second quarter.
DES FROM THE SANTA MONICA PIER 🙌 pic.twitter.com/LKJzbBy9KH
— Bally Sports: Grizzlies (@GrizzOnBally) January 6, 2024
End of the first quarter: Lakers 38, Grizzlies 29
Ja Morant hits a step-back 3-pointer over Jarred Vanderbilt to end the first quarter. Grizzlies trail by 9.
Morant has 11 first-quarter points on 4-of-5 shooting. The Grizzlies will need a better defensive effort, though, to get back into the game. Taylor Jenkins tells the ESPN broadcast that the Grizzlies need to provide more "resistance".
JA 🙌
That's 11 points after one for @JaMorant 🥷 pic.twitter.com/yVUkDPWOI4— Bally Sports: Grizzlies (@GrizzOnBally) January 6, 2024
Lakers 36, Grizzlies 27 with 1:12 left first quarter: Grizzlies defense takes a step back
Anthony Davis scores on the low block and then seconds later after a Grizzlies turnover off an offensive rebound. Davis has 12 points.
Lakers are shooting 60% from the field and 5-of-7 from 3. Too easy for the Lakers to own the middle of the floor with the basketball.
The Grizzlies very well could end the first quarter by shooting 60% from the field and trailing by a significant margin.
LeBron James starts 4-of-4 from 3
The Grizzlies are in trouble if this is the LeBron James they get all night. James has 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including 4-of-4 from 3. James is coming off a 12-point game in Wednesday's loss against Miami, playing through an illness according to the team.
Taylor Jenkins calls timeout after James knocks down his fourth 3-pointer. Lakers lead 25-22.
Grizzlies are shooting 60% from the field, and Marcus Smart has knocked down two 3-pointers. Memphis rotating through the bench, with Santi Aldama and Luke Kennard the first two to substitute into the game.
4 STRAIGHT THREES FOR LEBRON 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Ee3XWyaJna
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 6, 2024
Lakers 13, Grizzlies 12 with 6:23 left first quarter: Back and forth start
All five Grizzlies starters have scored, but an Austin Reaves and-1 puts the Lakers ahead at the first media timeout.
Reaves also has two fouls but stayed in the game for a couple minutes after his second.
Lakers bench is a little light at current, but the Grizzlies bench has been up-and-down too. We'll see how it goes.
Grizzlies make a starting lineup change at center
Bismack Biyombo re-enters the lineup for Xavier Tillman in the Grizzlies frontcourt. Memphis will start with Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Biyombo.
The Lakers start with Austin Reaves, Cam Reddish, LeBron James, Taurean Prince and Anthony Davis.
What channel is Grizzlies vs. Lakers today?
TV channel: ESPN nationally, Bally Sports Southeast locally
Stream: FUBO (free trial available), ESPN app, Bally Sports app locally
Lakers vs. Grizzlies will be broadcast nationally on ESPN and locally on Bally Sports Southeast. Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app and FUBO, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
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Grizzlies vs. Lakers start time
Date: Friday, Jan. 5
Time: 9 p.m. CT
The Grizzlies face the Loa Angeles Lakers, with tip-off scheduled for 9 p.m. CT Friday at crypto.com Arena.
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Grizzlies vs. Lakers betting odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Thursday, Jan. 4
Spread: Lakers -4.5
Money line: Lakers -190, Grizzlies +155
Over/under total: 228.5 points
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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Memphis Grizzlies score, live updates vs Lakers, LeBron James