Daniel's career-high 31 points lift Grizzlies
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Memphis guard Troy Daniels scored a career-high 31 points off the bench as the Grizzlies defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 103-100 on Saturday night at FedExForum.
Memphis (13-8) led 103-97 after center Marc Gasol (19 points, eight assists) hit a short shot at the 1:15 mark. The Lakers cut the lead to 103-100 when guard Lou Williams (40 points) converted a three-point play.
The Lakers (10-12) had a great chance to tie when Gasol fouled power forward Julius Randle behind the 3-point line with 5.9 seconds remaining. But Randle, a 70.8 percent free-throw shooter, missed all three shots. Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson got the rebound but misfired on a desperation three from the corner and time ran out.
Daniels hit 6 of 12 treys and added four assists, a steal and block. Williams, who also came off the bench, was 4 of 8 from distance and 14 of 14 from the foul line, falling shy of his career high of 44 points.
The game was tight throughout the second half and featured 17 lead changes overall. The Lakers were hurt by 18 turnovers that translated into 25 Memphis points.
The Grizzlies got 16 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks from forward JaMychal Green, who scored eight points and grabbed seven rebounds in the third quarter as Memphis erased the Laker's eight-point halftime and sent the game into the fourth tied 82-82.
Los Angeles shot 43.2 percent from the field and hit 7 of 21 from 3-point range for 33.3 percent. The Grizzlies shot 46.6 percent and were 10 of 30 from distance for 33.3 percent.
Rookie guard Wade Baldwin handed out a career-high nine assists with seven points, three steals and a block for the Grizzlies. Forward Luol Deng had 18 points, five rebounds and four steals for Los Angeles and center Timothy Mozgov finished with 13 points and five rebounds.
Williams had 28 points and the Lakers led 62-54 at halftime. Daniels had 23 points at the half.
NOTES: The Lakers were without PG D'Angelo Russell (left knee), swingman Nick Young (right leg) and F Larry Nance Jr. (right knee). Memphis had six players out, including PG Mike Conley (lower back), PF Zach Randolph (personal) and SF Chandler Parsons (left knee). "That's part of NBA life," Los Angeles coach Luke Walton said. "They were able to get a big win against Orlando (Thursday) with this team so they are still very capable." ... The Memphis win over Orlando also made the Grizzlies 5-0 on the second night of back-to-backs. ... Walton was an assistant coach at the University of Memphis before the start of the delayed 2011-12 NBA season. Among his players was current Lakers big man Tarik Black. "I knew the kid was a beast back then," Walton said. ... Memphis PG Andrew Harrison leds NBA rookies in minutes per game (28.5) through Friday's games.