MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Anthony Davis not being available has more often than not been a problem for the Lakers, especially defensively.
That wasn’t the case on Wednesday night, as the Lakers beat the Memphis Grizzlies, 136-124, for their season-best fifth consecutive victory and pulled within 2½ games of idle Dallas for the sixth spot in the Western Conference standings, a spot that would avoid a play-in game.
With Davis out, LeBron James and Rui Hachimura picked up the slack after Davis carried a heavy load the previous night.
James, who was back in the lineup after missing Tuesday’s double-overtime victory over the Milwaukee Bucks because of his injured left ankle, had 23 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists for his fourth triple-double of the season to go with two steals.
Hachimura had 32 points and 10 rebounds, his second double-double of the season after recording one against the Bucks. His seven 3-pointers (on just eight attempts) were a career-high.
All five Lakers starters scored in double figures, including Jaxson Hayes (14 points, seven rebounds), who started in place of Davis. D’Angelo Russell had 23 points and Austin Reaves had 13 points and 11 assists.
Taurean Prince (15 points) and Spencer Dinwiddie (14 points and seven rebounds) paced the bench.
James’ floor game stood out, with the four-time league MVP making his first six shots, helping the Lakers open a 69-61 halftime lead.
The Lakers (41-32) blitzed the Grizzlies (24-49) to start the third quarter, with Hachimura making back-to-back 3-pointers and before Russell made a 3-pointer to extend the margin to 78-64 – a lead that ballooned to 98-71 later in the quarter. The Lakers made eight of their first 10 long-range shots in the third to stretch their advantage.
But when James, who had an individual plus/minus of plus-33, was off the floor, the Lakers struggled.
The Grizzlies closed the third on a 21-4 run with James on the bench, cutting the Lakers’ lead to 102-92.
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But James and the Lakers found their groove again in the final quarter.
Reaves assisted Hachimura on his seventh 3-pointer to give the Lakers a 113-98 lead with 9:13 remaining. The Lakers maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the night.
Desmond Bane led Memphis with 26 points and 16 assists. Jake LaRavia scored 14 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, and Jaren Jackson added 17. The Grizzlies have lost six of seven.
More to come on this story.