LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers sent Grizzlies fans home early with a dominant fourth-quarter performance to win Game 1 of their Western Conference Round 1 match-up 128-112 in Memphis.
Rui Hachimura had a career-best playoff scoring performance with 29 points, including 21 in the second half, and James added 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Austin Reaves added 23 points, including nine straight in the closing minutes as the Lakers pulled away. Anthony Davis had 22 points and 12 rebounds, and D’Angelo Russell, who scored only two points in the Lakers’ play-in win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, finished with 19 points.
Jaren Jackson Jr. led Memphis with 31 points, while Desmond Bane scored 22. Ja Morant had 18 points before leaving in the fourth quarter with an injured right hand.
Los Angeles wrested home-court advantage from the Grizzlies, who had the NBA’s best home record at 35-6. Game 2 is Wednesday at 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 he suffered a worrying-looking hand injury later on
Rui Hachimura top-scored with 29 points for the Lakers as they stunned Grizzlies in Memphis
It was Hachimura from Japan who provided Los Angeles some breathing room in the third quarter, connecting on all four of his 3-point attempts.
Hachimura’s only previous playoff experience was in 2021 with Washington, which lost a first-round series to Philadelphia. The Lakers acquired him from the Wizards in a midseason trade.
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-victory season, to earn the No. 2 seed.
The Lakers led by as much as 10 in the first half as Memphis faced some early ballhandling woes. Jarred Vanderbilt’s defense kept Morant out of the paint for a while. But Memphis outscored the Lakers 38-27 in the second quarter to carry a 65-59 lead into the break.
D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves talk tactics during the Game 1 matchup in Tennessee
Morant gees up the crowd during the early stages of the game at FedEx Forum in Memphis
Anthony Davis gave the Lakers an injury scare but he was able to return to the court soon after
Davis drives to the basket for a dunk as the Lakers romped to a big win in their Round 1 Game 1
