Memphis Grizzlies sharpshooter Desmond Bane guarantees that the first-round series with the Los Angeles Lakers will go to a Game 7.
To make that happen, Bane and the Grizzlies have to figure out how to win in Los Angeles. Memphis is 0-4 against the Lakers in Southern California this season entering Friday’s Game 6.
Two of the losses came in Games 3 and 4 of this Western Conference series. The Grizzlies also fell in both regular-season visits.
But Memphis remained alive with a 116-99 home victory over the Lakers on Wednesday to pull within 3-2 in the best-of-seven series.
By staving off elimination, optimism returned to the Grizzlies and Bane is leading the way with his pledge.
Bane did his part to keep Memphis alive with 33 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in Game 5. Backcourt partner Ja Morant added 31 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in a game the Grizzlies took control of with a 26-2 burst, including 19-2 to end the third quarter.
James’ play wasn’t so great. He had his worst game of the series with 15 points on 5-of-17 shooting and missed all five of his attempts in a scoreless fourth quarter.
He was one of many Lakers who looked tired while the Grizzlies were running circles around them during the game-changing run that turned a one-point game into a 25-point margin.
James is an abysmal 3-for-28 from 3-point range over the past four games and is 6-for-36 in the series.
The shaky outing came two nights after James posted the first 20-20 game of his career with 22 points and 20 rebounds in a 117-111 overtime victory in Game 4. James forced overtime with a basket with 0.8 seconds remaining.
Anthony Davis, who had 31 points and 19 rebounds in Game 5, was in James’ position following Game 2 when he had only 13 points on 4-of-14 shooting during a 103-93 setback.
Memphis would like to get a contribution from forward Dillon Brooks in Game 6. The agitator had just eight points on 3-of-15 shooting in Game 5 and is shooting 30.3 percent in the series, including 8 of 37 (21.6) from behind the arc.
Brooks was on the bench during the Grizzlies’ gamebreaking burst as Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins replaced him with Luke Kennard, who later departed with a left shoulder injury.
Brooks, who was ejected in Game 3 for poking James in the groin, could hear the groans from the hometown fans when he shot the ball.
