LeBron James’ 22-20 night leads Lakers over Grizzlies in OT

LeBron James scored 22 factors, together with a layup to pressure additional time and one other late within the additional interval, because the Los Angeles Lakers earned a 117-111 victory over the visiting Memphis Grizzlies on Monday to construct a commanding 3-1 lead in a first-round Western Conference playoff collection.

James added a career-high 20 rebounds whereas Austin Reaves scored 23 factors for the seventh-seeded Lakers, who’ve their first probability to eradicate the Grizzlies in Game 5 on Wednesday at Memphis.

The final Laker to place up 20-plus factors and 20-plus rebounds in a playoff recreation was Shaquille O’Neal in 2004.

D’Angelo Russell scored 17 factors for the Lakers, sinking three key 3-pointers within the fourth quarter earlier than fouling out. Anthony Davis was held to 12 factors for Los Angeles whereas coping with hip discomfort after a second-quarter harm. However, he scored 5 factors in additional time and wound up with 11 rebounds.

James made a layup with 0.8 seconds remaining in regulation and sealed the victory on one other layup with 29.4 seconds left in additional time when he was fouled by Dillon Brooks. He missed the following free throw however gave Los Angeles a 113-108 benefit.

Desmond Bane scored 36 factors and Ja Morant added 19 for the second-seeded Grizzlies, who’re 0-3 within the collection with Morant on the ground. Memphis earned a 103-93 victory in Game 2 when Morant was out with a sore proper hand.

Morant aggravated his harm within the third quarter on Monday however remained the sport.

Jaren Jackson Jr. amassed 14 factors, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks for Memphis, whereas Xavier Tillman added 12 factors.

The Grizzlies took the lead late in regulation on an end-to-end sequence when Jackson blocked a Rui Hachimura dunk try with 10.8 seconds remaining. Morant led a quick break, sending a behind-the-back cross to Bane for a 104-102 benefit with 6.7 seconds left.

James received the Lakers even with 0.8 seconds left on his driving layup, and Davis blocked a Morant shot on the regulation buzzer.

The Lakers led 29-23 after one quarter, but it surely was a much better 12 minutes for the Grizzlies than Saturday after they have been outscored 35-9 within the opening interval. Los Angeles led by as many as 15 within the second quarter earlier than Memphis closed out the half on a 14-1 run to get inside 54-52 on the break.

–Field Level Media/Reuters