Lakers blowout Grizzlies in Game 6; advance to 2nd round
The Lakers dominated the Grizzlies in Game 6 and are advancing to the 2nd round. It was a 125-85 victory, with LA controlling the entire game.
D’Angelo Russell led the offense for the Lakers, finishing with 31 points and four assists. He shot 12-17 from the field and 5-9 from three. Russell was dynamic and an elite shot-maker.
Anthony Davis had a good game as well, with 16 points, 14 rebounds, and five blocks. He wasn’t a dominant scorer, but he crashed the glass and protected the glass at an elite rate.
“I don’t respect someone until they come and give me 40”
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) April 29, 2023
Welp. The Lakers just won by 40... 💀 pic.twitter.com/SYiqYKMUOZ
LeBron James had a bounce-back performance with 22 points, five rebounds, and six assists. He shot 9-13 from the field and 2-5 from downtown. He came and worked out early before the game after a disappointing Game 5 and was able to have a good game.
Austin Reaves had a great all-around game with 11 points, six rebounds, and eight assists. Jarred Vanderbilt hit three of his eight threes and played good defense.
The Lakers' defense was elite, as they held Ja Morant to only ten points on 3-16 shooting. They also held Desmond Bane had 15 points on 5-16 shooting and Jaren Jackson Jr. to 14 points on 3-12 shooting.
Aged like milk 💀 pic.twitter.com/6W38SVCRYO
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) April 29, 2023
LA won every single quarter in a tremendous all-around team win. The Grizzlies started off the series with trash talk from Dillon Brooks. Ja Morant also said, “I’m fine in the West,” earlier this season when asked what teams he worries about in the playoffs.
Ja in December 2022: “I’m fine in the West.”
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) April 29, 2023
April 2023: The Lakers sent him PACKING for Cancun 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/rFqEgjsBFI
The Grizzlies could not back up their trash talk, and the Lakers now eliminate them. LA will play the winner of the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors series. The Kings and Warriors will play Game 7 on Sunday in Sacramento. With their Game 7, LA will get some extra rest before the second-round series.
It has been a phenomenal turnaround for the Lakers, who were the 13th seed for the majority of the season. Rob Pelinka made a ton of great moves at the trade deadline to reformulate the roster, and they are now an elite team.
The Lakers won their first-round series over the 2nd seed Grizzlies in six games. They now advance to the 2nd round, hoping to make a deep playoff run.