Lakers take 3-1 series lead over Grizzlies behind LeBron James' 22-point, 20-rebound overtime performance

The Lakers have Memphis on the brink of elimination

Just when you thought the Memphis Grizzlies were about to tie this series at two games apiece, the Los Angeles Lakers reminded the basketball world how they've managed to go 22-10 since the trade deadline. Trailing by seven with just over five minutes to go, three straight D'Angelo Russell 3-pointers dragged them back into the game. And then, with only 0.8 seconds remaining, LeBron James tied the score at 104 apiece with a high arcing, banked layup with Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. in front of him.

The game went to overtime from there, and the Lakers took over. James made a layup with Dillon Brooks breathing down his neck to give the Lakers a five-point lead with under a minute left to go, and that effectively clinched it. After trailing the Grizzlies for most of the second half, the Lakers pulled together and took back a game they desperately needed. Now they can clinch the series on Wednesday in Memphis, and the Grizzlies will have to figure out what went wrong down the stretch. Here are the biggest takeaways from Game 4.

Better late than never

The theme of this game for the Lakers? Better late than never. It started in the fourth quarter. D'Angelo Russell, who hasn't shot 35% from the field for his career in the postseason, had been even worse thus far in this series. He was a defensive punching bag for Memphis at the end of Game 2, and through three games, he was shooting just 33.3% from the field and 28.6% from 3-point range against the Grizzlies. Darvin Ham took an enormous risk by reinserting him into the game down seven with around five minutes left. Russell rewarded him with three consecutive 3-pointers before fouling out.

The turnaround was even more stark for LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The Laker duo combined for 54.8 points per game during the regular season... but had just 23 through 47 minutes and 53 seconds of Game 4. And then, they flipped the script with the following sequence:

• James makes the game-tying layup with 0.8 seconds remaining.
• Davis blocks Morant's game-winning mid-range attempt.
• Davis scores the first two points of overtime on a layup.
• James scores the next two points of overtime on a layup.

In one minute and 17 seconds of game time, James and Davis turned a probable loss into a probable win. That is what superstars do. They can struggle for entire games... and then swing the outcome when it counts most. Davis, dealing with a hip injury suffered in the middle of the game, never got it going offensively. He didn't need to. He was once again so dominant on defense that the Lakers managed to make it to overtime with only 104 regulation points. James spent the entire game settling for jumpers. On the two biggest possessions of the night, he went to the rack and found the points the Lakers needed most. Throw in his 20 rebounds (giving him the first 20-20 postseason game of his career), and the two of them both found a way to win the Lakers a game they had no business winning.

Morant feeling the hand injury

Ja Morant managed 45 points on Saturday. The Grizzlies may have lost Game 3, but it was encouraging to see their star put up such a gaudy stat line. It suggested that in a closer game, Morant could still carry the Grizzlies across the finish line. Well... he got a closer game on Monday, and if he'd looked anything like he did on Saturday, the Grizzlies probably would have won. He ultimately shot 8-of-24 in defeat. That included a 1-of-6 line from the field in the fourth quarter and overtime.

So what happened? A few things worked against Morant. Part of his 45-point performance on Saturday relied on making six 3-pointers. As we've covered, the Lakers strategically sacrifice those shots by going under screens. They continued to do so on Monday, but Morant missed those shots. That's to be expected. Morant shot below 30% on pull-up 3's this season. To some extent, he just cooled off. Dennis Schroder's ball pressure also deserves a ton of credit.

But here's a stealthier explanation. In the third quarter, Morant took a hard fall after a layup and clearly aggravated his hand injury. He stayed in the game, but he was visibly in pain. Whether or not James took this into account is not clear, but twice in the second half, he managed to draw charges on Morant. On both occasions, the two of them fell hard onto the court, but Morant, starting in the air on both of them, clearly took the brunt of the falls. Morant is known for taking big falls. We can't say for certain if his aggression cost him this game, but he clearly played through pain, and those tumbles couldn't have helped matters.

All bark, no Brooks

Dillon Brooks has likely delivered more trash-talk towards LeBron James in this series than any opponent has in years. He stated publicly that he wanted to face James and "knock him out right away" before the postseason began. He called him old after Game 2 claimed that he doesn't respect an opponent until they've dropped 40 on him. Unless you count the 20 points and 20 rebounds James accumulated in Game 3 as 40 in the aggregate, LeBron hasn't quite lived up to that billing.

But he's come a whole lot closer to that figure than Brooks has. In two Los Angeles games, Brooks wound up shooting 7-of-22 from the field and 2-of-12 from 3-point range. He was ejected from Game 3 after hitting James in the groin. James went at him one-on-one on the pivotal possession of overtime and not only scored over him, but drew a foul in the process. Brooks didn't speak to reporters after either road game.

Only the Memphis locker room knows just how tiring Brooks' antics really are, but it is a universally accepted truth in basketball that you have to actually back up your trash talk with your play on the court. Brooks has played well defensively, but he's been an undeniable net negative in the series as a whole. They've been outscored by 14 points during his minutes, and he riled up an already excited Los Angeles crowd that gave the Lakers a major boost in both of the last two games. Throw in any extra motivation for a Lakers team that has rallied behind its leader and this series is turning out to be a borderline disaster for Brooks.

[Apr 25, 2023 at 1:05 am ET · Sam Quinn]

Lakers in great shape

Teams with a 3-1 series lead have advanced 91% of the time in NBA postseason history. Of course, LeBron James knows how to fall on the other end of that equation. The Lakers will try to finish this thing quickly on Wednesday. The more rest they can get before Round 2, the better.

[Apr 25, 2023 at 1:02 am ET · Sam Quinn]

That should do it

Two more free throws for the Lakers. It's 115-108 with 13.1 seconds left. The Lakers will take this game and push their series lead to 3-1. They can clinch the series on Wednesday in Memphis.

[Apr 25, 2023 at 12:57 am ET · Sam Quinn]

James over Brooks might do it!

With Dillon Brooks staring him in the face, LeBron James drives for a layup to put the Lakers up 113-108 and draws a foul in the process. That might clinch it with just 29.4 remaining.

[Apr 25, 2023 at 12:56 am ET · Sam Quinn]

LeBron makes history

With that offensive rebound, LeBron James just had the first 20-20 game of his postseason career.

[Apr 25, 2023 at 12:54 am ET · Sam Quinn]

Lakers by three with two minutes to go

Every possession feels like a war. James and Davis have all five Laker points in overtime. They have the ball and just called timeout with 1:53 remaining in overtime.

[Apr 25, 2023 at 12:51 am ET · Sam Quinn]

The stars taking over

LeBron James and Anthony Davis scored just 23 points in the first 47:53 of this game. But James has four points since, and Davis has two plus a game-saving block. Better late than never.

[Apr 25, 2023 at 12:46 am ET · Sam Quinn]

We're headed to overtime, but LeBron hypes up the crowd

Anthony Davis just volleyball spiked Ja Morant's game-tying shot, and LeBron James made a three-quarter court shot... but the clock had expired. We're headed to overtime.

[Apr 25, 2023 at 12:44 am ET · Sam Quinn]

LeBron for the tie!

LeBron James, after settling for jumpers all series, finally goes to the rack and banks in the game-tying layup with 0.8 seconds remaining! It's 104-104. Timeout Memphis!

[Apr 25, 2023 at 12:43 am ET · Sam Quinn]

Bane gives Memphis the lead!

The Lakers get denied at the rim again, and Ja Morant hits Desmond Bane with a behind the back pass in transition to give Memphis a 104-102 lead with 6.7 seconds remaining. Timeout Lakers. They'll have one shot to tie or win the game.

[Apr 25, 2023 at 12:41 am ET · Sam Quinn]

Another foul

LeBron James fouls Ja Morant on the layup, and now the Grizzlies have extended their lead to 102-100. 

[Apr 25, 2023 at 12:39 am ET · Sam Quinn]

Russell done for the night

D'Angelo Russell just picked up his sixth foul. He's done for the night, but his three 3-pointers gave the Lakers a chance. He did his part, but after Desmond Bane makes his two free throws, it's 101-100 Grizzlies

[Apr 25, 2023 at 12:38 am ET · Sam Quinn]

The Lakers finally get a rebound

Two huge offensive rebounds for the Lakers on those two Russell misses get Anthony Davis two free throws in a tied 99-99 game. Davis makes the first and misses the second. It's 100-99 Lakers.

[Apr 25, 2023 at 12:37 am ET · Sam Quinn]

LeBron does it again!

That's the second charge that LeBron James has drawn on Ja Morant in the second half. Morant, nursing a hand injury, has taken major falls both times. Morant has to be more careful in those situations. He needs to learn a euro step to avoid those moments.

[Apr 25, 2023 at 12:34 am ET · Sam Quinn]

Russell again!

That's three straight 3-pointers from D'Angelo Russell to give the Lakers a 99-97 lead! What a turn of events as a player who has struggled all series has suddenly come alive in the fourth.