LeBron James had yet another outstanding game on Wednesday night as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 128-123. He recorded his third consecutive triple-double with 35 points, 14 assists, and 12 rebounds. Despite making 13 of 22 shots, including 4 of 7 from beyond the arc, James’ efficiency was clear. His performance was crucial to the Lakers’ victory as they overcame a three-quarter deficit of 96-91 to seize the lead in the final quarter.
Anthony Davis contributed significantly with 14 rebounds and 21 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter. In the third quarter, Davis had a rough time after getting his fifth foul with less than four minutes left. With 6:48 remaining, though, he came back into the game and made an immediate impression. Among his crucial shots was a game-winning 3-pointer at 4:51 that gave the Lakers a 111-108 lead, which they held all game.
Jaren Jackson Jr. of Memphis led his team with 29 points, but the Grizzlies couldn’t continue their winning streak of three games. The Lakers added 19 points from rookies Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht, who supported their star players with more offensive firepower. Knecht made all five of his 3-point shots, demonstrating exceptional efficiency.
After trailing into the final quarter, the Lakers surged 10–2 to take the lead in the first quarter. The game saw multiple lead changes in the final minutes before Davis’ 3-pointer gave Los Angeles an advantage they would not relinquish. With this victory, the Lakers enjoyed their best home start since the 2010–11 season and their sixth straight home win.
Memphis had a balanced scoring effort with seven players scoring in double figures for the fourth consecutive game. Marcus Smart returned with 14 points after missing six games due to an ankle injury. Memphis’ combined efforts failed to hold their lead as the Lakers made a strong charge in the final period.
Davis made a basket at 7:51 in the first quarter to achieve 18,000 career points, a noteworthy individual accomplishment. Along with becoming the 80th player in NBA history to accomplish this record, he entered a select group of just 12 players who had at least 1,500 blocks and 7,000 rebounds since 1973–74.
Another important element in the Lakers’ victory was their ability to shoot well from beyond the arc. They demonstrated their shooting depth by making a season-high 20 3-pointers. Knecht finished the game 5-for-5 from 3-point range, demonstrating the Lakers’ offensive effectiveness in this high-scoring game. His flawless shooting from beyond the arc was especially impressive.
