They did it! After going overtime in each of their last three games, the Lakers finally won by rules, beating the Memphis Grizzlies 115-105 at Staples Center on Friday.
But this game started much like the last three for the Lakers: a slow start followed by a handful of runs, but none that could get them over the bump. The Grizzlies went on a 20-2 run to start the first quarter and ended the period with a 15-point lead.
The Lakers didn’t take their first lead of the game until the third quarter, but they won every quarter expecting the first. They also never lost the lead after taking it. The Lakers outperformed the Grizzlies 41-23 in the third quarter and 28-23 in the fourth.
Anthony Davis made a strong return to court on Friday, with 35 points and 8 rebounds in 35 minutes. He wore a hiking boot when he lay on the couch, but when he was on the floor he looked as spry as everyone else. It’s not too late to catapult him past Nikola Jokic and Kawhi Leonard for All-Star votes in the Western Conference, you know!
Kyle Kuzma was also very valuable to the Lakers from the bench on Friday, scoring 20 points and taking 10 rebounds. Kuzma had more points and rebounds than any starters not called LeBron James and Anthony Davis combined. He looks like he’s having a good time now.
But Friday night’s real winner wasn’t the Lakers; it was LeBron James, who played under 40 minutes for the first time since February 4. James has insisted that his body feels good during this rough stretch, but it’s really exhausting to watch him. The Lakers owed it to him to limit this game to four quarters of an hour. He also made sure to do his part by contributing 28 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and two steals.
With a win on Friday, the Lakers closed their five-game home game with a 5-0 record and extended their winning streak to seven games. They are now hitting the road for the first time in two weeks to take on the Denver Nuggets at the Ball Arena on Saturday to turn their seven-game win streak into an eight-game win.
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