Lakers Steal Game 1 On The Road Over Grizzlies
The Lakers went on a big run to finish the game and defeated the Grizzlies 128-112. It was a great all-around performance from Darvin Ham’s group.
Anthony Davis anchored the defense for LA, finishing with 22 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, three steals, and seven blocks. Davis dominated on the defensive end of the floor, altering and blocking many shots in the paint. He was doubled frequently on offense but had a huge impact on the game.
RUI OVER JAREN JACKSON JR 🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/B4QloQnD8h
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) April 16, 2023
Rui Hachimura’s production off the bench was pivotal. Hachimura finished with 29 points and six rebounds, shooting 11-14 from the field and 5-6 from three. His offense was much-needed and a big reason why the Lakers came away with the victory.
In his postgame interview, Hachimura said, "Since I got here, this team really believes in me … (it makes me) very confident and comfortable."
The closer for Ham’s lineup was Austin Reaves. Reaves took over in the final minutes of the game to seal the win. He had 23 points, shooting 8-13 from the field, 3-5 from three, and 4-4 from the free throw line. Reaves was efficient, and his high screen and roll action with Davis led to buckets down the stretch.
Austin Reaves deflected when asked about his huge individual crunch time run: “When you got guys like LeBron and AD, it makes things easier.”
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) April 16, 2023
Later he added: “You dream about being on a stage like this with the best players in the world. I got hot late, and had fun.”
LeBron James put in a solid performance, even if it wasn’t his typical dominant game. James had 21 points along with 11 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and three blocks. He was engaged on the defensive end of the floor and put his stamp on the victory.
D’Angelo Russell was key to the offense after a disappointing performance in the play-in game. Russell had 19 points and seven assists as he found his own shot and created looks for his teammates.
Jaren Jackson Jr led the way for the Grizzlies in their defeat. He had 31 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. He kept Memphis in the game with his performance.
Ja Morant headed to the locker room with an apparent injury after this play. pic.twitter.com/MZOrSN9Tmz
— ESPN (@espn) April 16, 2023
The big storyline coming out of this game will be the health of the Grizzlies' best player, Ja Morant. Morant left the game in the fourth quarter after injuring his hand. His availability in the rest of the series could have a considerable impact.
The Lakers stole Game 1 on the road from the Grizzlies. It was an all-around team performance, and they will look to build on it as they head into Game 2 on Wednesday.