Los Angeles Lakers ahead LeBron James (23) celebrates after scoring a 3-pointer through the first half of an NBA basketball sport towards the Memphis Grizzlies in Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. (AP Photograph/Ashley Landis)
LOS ANGELES — LeBron James didn’t sugarcoat his more and more bitter emotions after the Los Angeles Lakers spiraled to their tenth loss in 13 video games Friday evening within the NBA, falling 127-113 to the Memphis Grizzlies.
“We simply suck proper now,” a visibly perturbed James mentioned after he scored 32 factors within the Lakers’ fourth consecutive loss.
Anthony Davis had 31 factors in Los Angeles’ newest discouraging defeat since successful the inaugural NBA In-Season Match. The Lakers — who gave up a season-high 23 3-pointers to a Memphis group that’s final within the NBA in 3-point capturing share — have overwhelmed solely San Antonio, Oklahoma Metropolis and Charlotte since elevating the trophy in Las Vegas 4 weeks in the past.
Earlier than the sport, coach Darvin Ham mentioned he felt assured in his job safety due to his discussions with proprietor Jeanie Buss and common supervisor Rob Pelinka. After the Lakers’ newest dismal effort, Ham praised his group’s areas of enchancment whereas expressing a curious frustration with the general public reception of their current struggles.
“That is the NBA, man,” Ham mentioned. “It is a marathon. You need to take a look at the totality of the image. I’m bored with individuals dwelling and dying with each single sport we play. It’s ludicrous, really. It’s like, ‘Come on, man. It is a marathon.’ We hit a troublesome stretch. It’s the identical group. We performed some high-level video games a short time in the past, and we’ve simply bought to get again to that. We’ve bought to maintain the battle, although. We can’t lose our battle.”
“It appears to occur lots versus us.” LeBron James speaks on Memphis’ nice capturing and the Lakers’ unhealthy play. pic.twitter.com/TnnzU2Nat3
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) January 6, 2024
LeBron doesn’t share his coach’s optimism: He reacted negatively to a suggestion that the Lakers’ stable play within the match ultimate was a sign that this group is usually a championship contender.
“That was simply two video games, although,” James mentioned. “That was a small pattern. Everyone is getting so cracked up about Vegas, preserve mentioning Vegas. It was two video games. We took care of that enterprise … however that was actually simply two video games.”
Austin Reaves had 19 factors and a career-high 12 assists, however the Lakers dropped to 0-2 to start a 12-game stretch with only one sport exterior of Los Angeles. The Lakers acknowledge they’re feeling the pressure of their dropping streak.
“Carrying this uniform, you get loads of flack, and guys are watching you below a microscope as a group,” Davis mentioned. “You will have a few unhealthy video games, lose a pair in a row, you may’t lose your confidence. Can’t be on social media, listening to no matter individuals are saying. We’ve bought to remain collectively on this locker room and discover our approach out of it. There’s no assist coming. There’s no cavalry. We’ve bought to do it with the blokes we’ve bought and stay collectively.”
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) shoots towards Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) through the first half of an NBA basketball sport in Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. (AP Photograph/Ashley Landis)
Jaren Jackson Jr. hit 5 3-pointers and scored 31 factors and Marcus Good added 29 factors with a season-high eight 3-pointers for the Grizzlies, who earned simply their second win in six video games.
Desmond Bane had 24 factors and 13 assists whereas Ja Morant scored 21 factors for Memphis, whose beginning lineup mixed for 21 of these 3-pointers. Good had missed 16 consecutive 3-point makes an attempt over the previous 5 video games in a low-percentage capturing season earlier than he hit the primary of his 8 3-pointers towards the Lakers.
Ziaire Williams added 10 of his 15 factors within the fourth quarter whereas the Grizzlies pulled away from the Lakers with a game-ending, 24-10 run.
“We bought some fairly attractiveness,” James mentioned. “They turned us over. I had two important turnovers, missed 4 free throws. However we had our possibilities.”
Los Angeles had gained six consecutive dwelling video games over the Grizzlies prior to now 12 months, together with three straight within the Lakers’ first-round playoff upset of the second-seeded Grizz final spring.
“It was good, as a result of clearly we haven’t gained right here shortly,” Morant mentioned. “It’s the group that knocked us out of the playoffs. Clearly, we’re not the place we wish to be proper now through the season, so this was a big-time win for us. We are able to carry the momentum from this sport.”
The Lakers performed with out two regulars and frequent starters: D’Angelo Russell missed his third straight sport with a bruised tailbone, and Rui Hachimura missed his second in a row with a strained left calf.
In the course of the third quarter, Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins bought a technical foul for stepping onto the courtroom throughout play to argue a few no-call throughout a unfastened ball scramble between James and Jackson.
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Jenkins impeded Taurean Prince main the Lakers’ quick break the opposite approach after which fought aggressively to get previous his assistants as they held him again from the officers, however Jenkins in some way wasn’t ejected. Jenkins mentioned he apologized to Ham for interrupting play.
“You may’t try this, so I take full accountability there,” Jenkins mentioned. “I noticed a tussle there. Jaren is clamping LeBron. Clearly (the officers) didn’t see that, after which I noticed one thing that crossed the road. Perhaps take a look at it after the actual fact, however I noticed possibly some intent that I needed to get up for my man. Glad to see our guys rally. Clearly bought the group into it. … I used to be simply pleased with the way in which they fought all over after a troublesome first 12 minutes.”