Grizzlies Win Crucial Game Five, as Series Heads Back to LA

The Los Angeles Lakers came into Game 5 with the opportunity to close out their first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies, but they came up short, losing on Wednesday 116-99. Despite holding a 3-1 series lead, the Lakers could not handle the Grizzlies’ backcourt of Desmond Bane and Ja Morant, who combined for an impressive 64 points and 20 rebounds. The Grizzlies’ youth and NBA’s best home record added to their edge in Game 5.

LeBron James, who scored only 15 points and shot poorly, acknowledged his performance was not up to par, saying “I’ll be better in Game 6.” James has struggled to attack mismatches and make jumpers, shooting 6 of 36 from 3-point range through the series’ first five games. While the Grizzlies deserve credit for their defense, James needs to score 25 points per game as he and Anthony Davis are the only reliable scorers on the team.

The Lakers’ starting backcourt, Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell, struggled from the field, with Reaves making only four of 13 shots and Russell making only four of 11. Lakers coach Darvin Ham said, “We had some guys that struggled from the field. It’s a make-or-miss league, and you’ve got to make them when you have open looks.”

Despite a brief third-quarter surge from Russell, where he scored eight quick points, the Lakers could not overcome their missed shots, trailing at halftime and losing by a 17-point margin in Game 5. With another chance to close out the series, the Lakers will need to avoid mistakes and improve their shooting if they want to advance to the next round.