It wasn’t pretty, but the Memphis Grizzlies didn’t have many other options without Ja Morant. The Grizzlies pulled out a 103-93 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday to even their first-round series at 1-1. Game 3 is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT on Saturday in Los Angeles.
Memphis entered the game with an undeniable headwind after ruling out Morant, who exited Game 1 late after landing hard on his right hand. Tyus Jones started in the All-Star’s place and finished with 10 points, eight assists and six rebounds.
With decreased firepower, the Grizzlies fell back on their identity and did everything they could to make the Lakers miserable on offense. After scoring 128 points in Game 1, the Lakers struggled to find consistent holes in the Memphis defense and got little at the perimeter, shooting 7-of-26 from 3-point range.
The worst night belonged to Anthony Davis, who finished with 13 points on 4-of-14 shooting after taking a hard elbow to the face.
The Grizzlies spent large portions of the games up by double-digits, but things got tense late in the fourth quarter, when the Lakers cut the lead to 6 points with around four minutes left. The Grizzlies responded with one last run, punctuated by a Dillon Brooks 3-pointer.
Xavier Tillman, who has only been starting with center Steven Adams sidelined, led the Grizzlies with 22 points on 10-of-13 shooting with 13 rebounds, but the more noticeable player was Brooks, who decided he wanted a personal feud with LeBron James as well as the entirety of the Golden State Warriors. The two players exchanged chirps and staredowns down the stretch.
James led all scorers with 28 points, while Brooks had 12 points on 5-of-14 shooting.
NBA rumors: Warriors believe Domantas Sabonis uses ball as ‘weapon’ on offense
The Kings-Warriors first-round NBA playoff series has become highly contested as the matchup shifts to the Bay for Games 3 and 4.
Kings big man Domantas Sabonis is at the center of it all after being stomped on by Draymond Green, leading to a one-game suspension for the Warriors forward in Game 3. However, Golden State has a bigger gripe with Sabonis than just him grabbing Green’s leg.
“There is some anger within the organization toward the league,” ESPN NBA senior writer Zach Lowe said on the latest episode of “The Lowe Post” podcast.
“There’s a sense in the organization that Sabonis is shoving people on offensive rebounds and playing with his elbows out and using the ball as a weapon on offense.”
While the Warriors’ organization reportedly has an issue with how Sabonis plays, center Kevon Looney does not. In fact, the 27-year-old welcomes the physicality that some might perceive as dirty from Sabonis.
“I mean, as a big man, that’s what we do,” Looney told reporters Wednesday. “I think that’s pretty normal. The pushing, the shoving, the grabbing, that’s all part of protocol down there. And sometimes they call it, sometimes they don’t.
“So, like I said, I enjoy it, and hopefully, I get the benefit of the doubt next time.”
ESPN NBA analyst JJ Redick spotlighted the officiating Wednesday on “First Take,” saying the refs’ calls played a big role in the Kings having a two-games-to-none advantage.
“[The referees] have allowed too much,” Redick said. “I have no problem with physical play in the playoffs, but if Steph Curry is not allowed to move off the ball, if you’re preventing players from running down the court and you’re allowing that to happen. There’s a play late in Game 2 where Kevon Looney is right underneath the rim, ready for a rebound. [Domantas] Sabonis crashes in, pushes him in the back. They don’t call the foul. That’s a foul.
“The referees have dictated too much in the Kings’ favor in this series. I really believe that, and I don’t know if it’s the home crowd or whatever.”