One week after the Memphis Grizzlies secured a convincing victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, the teams will clash again on Wednesday.
This time, the Grizzlies will face the Lakers in Los Angeles, and the game is expected to have a different dynamic compared to last week’s matchup, where Memphis dominated with a 131-114 win.
In that game, Ja Morant was one of three Grizzlies to score 20 points, but he left the game in the third quarter due to a hip injury and has not played since. Considered week-to-week, there is no set timeline for his return.
Even without Morant, Memphis has continued to thrive, winning their past two games while averaging 131 points. Their most recent victory came on Sunday, a 134-89 road win against the Portland Trail Blazers, with Jaren Jackson Jr. scoring 20 points as one of seven Grizzlies in double figures.
The 45-point winning margin was the fourth largest in Memphis franchise history.
This marked the third consecutive game where seven Grizzlies scored in double figures, all victories, and Jay Huff tied a franchise record for a bench player with six blocked shots. The Trail Blazers managed only 9.5 percent shooting from beyond the arc (4-of-42).
The impressive win, led by Jackson on both ends of the court, was achieved without Morant, Desmond Bane (oblique), and Marcus Smart (ankle).
The Lakers concluded a tough 1-4 road trip with the loss to Memphis but have improved since returning home. They beat the Philadelphia 76ers 116-106 on Friday and secured a 123-103 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday. LeBron James recorded his third triple-double of the season and second consecutive, posting 19 points, 16 assists, and 10 rebounds on Sunday.
Anthony Davis scored 22 points but left the game in the third quarter after being poked in the eye. He is expected to return against the Grizzlies on Wednesday.
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell, moved to a reserve role after early-season struggles, missed practice on Tuesday due to an illness.
Despite the road trip difficulties, Los Angeles is 5-0 at home this season.
James, often accused of not being assertive in late-game situations, continues to emphasize the joy he derives from his teammates’ success, a sentiment that remains strong even after 22 seasons.
