Lakers at Grizzlies
The Los Angeles Lakers all but disappeared down the stretch on the front end of their back-to-back set and hope to rediscover the missing energy when they visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday. Los Angeles was outscored 44-21 in the fourth quarter on Friday to see a double-digit lead turn into a 133-120 loss to host San Antonio.
The Lakers led by 15 points with less than four minutes remaining in the third quarter before they wilted, allowing their four-game winning streak to evaporate. "I thought we played well enough to win that game for three quarters," Los Angeles coach Luke Walton told reporters. "Then they just took over in that fourth. ... We got to get better and better, and we play a tough Memphis team (Saturday) night." The Grizzlies, who have won three of their last four games, scored 26 points off 18 turnovers in Friday's 107-103 win at New Orleans. "Our guys pride themselves on being able to get stops," Memphis coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters. "We knew we had to be great defensively down the stretch."
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles), FS Southeast (Memphis)
ABOUT THE LAKERS (15-10): LeBron James registered 35 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds against the Spurs, but he was among the players who faded as he scored just four points in the fourth quarter. Walton measured his words cautiously when asked about James, who was especially strong in the first half with 24 points. "He gets to where he wants to on the court," Walton said. "He got shots, he got to the rim a few times. We didn't score a lot in the fourth, but I thought it was more our defense that was the letdown."
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (15-9): JaMychal Green scored a season-high 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting and collected eight rebounds in the win over the Pelicans. The strong effort was his second in a row, following a 19-point, 11-rebound performance against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, and he seemingly has fully recovered from the broken jaw that sidelined him for four weeks earlier this season. "He goes out there and fights every possession," Bickerstaff said. "He brings an energy and an intensity, and he's got the ability to stretch the floor."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The teams split last season's four meetings.
2. Los Angeles PG Lonzo Ball matched his season high of 11 assists and also scored 13 points against the Spurs.
3. Memphis backup C Joakim Noah recorded 13 points over 17 minutes against New Orleans in his second game with the club.