LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers win Game 1 of the Western Conference playoff in Memphis as Rui Hachimura scores high and Grizzlies star Ja Morant is out injured
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers sent home Grizzlies fans early with a dominant performance in the fourth quarter to win Game 1 of their Western Conference Round 1 game 128-112 in Memphis.
Rui Hachimura had a career best playoff scoring with 29 points, including 21 in the second half, and James added 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Austin Reaves added 23 points, including nine in a row in the final minutes as the Lakers pulled away. Anthony Davis had 22 points and 12 rebounds, and D’Angelo Russell, who scored just two points in the Lakers’ play-in victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, finished with 19 points.
Years Jackson Jr. led Memphis with 31 points, while Desmond Bane scored 22. Yes Morant had 18 points before leaving in the fourth quarter with an injured right hand.
Los Angeles wrested home field court advantage from the Grizzlies, who had the NBA’s best home record at 35–6. Game 2 is Wednesday on FedExForum.
LeBron James helped the Los Angeles Lakers to a huge win over No. 2 seed Memphis on Sunday
Grizzlies star Ja Morant suffered a hand injury late on and the Lakers went on to dominate
Morant celebrates in the first half, but later suffered a worrying hand injury
Rui Hachimura top-scored with 29 points for the Lakers as they stunned the Grizzlies in Memphis
It was Japan’s Hachimura who gave Los Angeles some breathing room in the third quarter, connecting all four of his three-point attempts.
Hachimura’s only previous playoff experience was in 2021 with Washington, who lost a first round series to Philadelphia. The Lakers purchased him from the Wizards midway through the season.
The Lakers earned the seventh seed in the West by beating Minnesota in the play-in tournament. Los Angeles missed the playoffs in 2022 and was eliminated in the first round by the Phoenix Suns a year earlier.
Memphis finished with 51 wins, its second straight 50-win season, to earn the No. 2 seed.
The Lakers led by as many as 10 in the first half as Memphis faced some early ball-handling issues. Jarred Vanderbilt’s defense kept Morant out of the picture for a moment. But Memphis defeated the Lakers 38-27 in the second quarter to take a 65-59 lead into the break.
D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves talk tactics during the Game 1 game in Tennessee
Morant calls on the crowd during the early stages of the game at the FedEx Forum in Memphis
Anthony Davis scared the Lakers with an injury, but he was able to return to the court soon after
Davis drives to the basket for a dunk as the Lakers race to a big win in their round 1 game 1