Lakers fall to red-hot Grizzlies in out-of-synch night.
After coming off a sixteen-point win over the Hawks, the Lakers' hopes were high in tonight's matchup against the red-hot Grizzlies, with both teams looking to extend their win streaks. Ultimately the Grizzlies were too much for the out-of-synch Lakers, snapping their four-game win streak, falling to Memphis 127–119 to drop their season record to 21–20.
Due to a bench-driven squad that put together a scrappy run late in the 4th quarter, the final score appeared to be much closer than the majority of the game. Austin Reaves' career-high 16 points helped the Lakers go on a dramatic 21–0 run as both teams rested their starters. The Lakers got as close as seven points to the Grizzlies, who had to bring out their starters to help seal the game for Memphis.
The Lakers' woes came on the offensive side of the ball, with James' teammates (in a 4–0 lineup entering Sunday) shooting just 8 for 39 (20%) from the floor and a combined 22 points among the four other starters. There were no other starters with more than 7 points.
When we weren't scoring, we lost focus on what we were supposed to be doing on the defensive side," head coach Frank Vogel said. "And that can't happen."
Adding more to his NBA most games scoring over 30 points, LeBron James finished with the game's highest score of 35 points on an impressive 74% (14 for 19), shooting overall in tonight's loss, adding 9 rebounds and 7 assists in 33 minutes played.
In the defeat, James passed Oscar Robertson for seventh place on the NBA's all-time assist record (9,887). It took a lot of effort to acquire the seven assists, as the Lakers missed a lot of open looks and opportunities right at the basket.
After the game, James was caught by surprise, finding out he passed NBA great Oscar Robertson on the all time assists list, paying homage to him on how he changed the game, James explained: "His ability to provide that sense of joy on the floor because of the pass is something I always respected and gravitated toward."
Russell Westbrook's struggles continued in tonight's loss, with his poor performance being highlighted by a Lakers win on Friday against the Hawks. In tonight's loss, Russell Westbrook failed to score over ten points for the second game in a row, shooting 17% on 2 of 12 shooting overall, scoring just 6 points in 26 minutes in the defeat.
"Obviously, his shot hasn't fell for him as of late, but I think he's just got to continue to trust that," James said. "We love when he's playing at a high level. We love it when he's playing with a high motor, pushing the tempo, cause when we're good, when we're really good, we're getting the fast-break points, and it starts with Russ attacking and early transition and things of that nature."
At the midway point of the season, the Lakers are only one game above.500. And, despite their longest win streak of the season(4-games), Sunday's loss served as a sobering reminder that they're still right in the NBA's considerable middle tier, with the Grizzlies being a stern reminder that there is more to improve if they want to raise banner number 18.
The Lakers' next matchup comes on the road this Wednesday against the 16–26 Sacramento Kings, who they just beat last Tuesday in a close battle by eight points.