Lakers vs. Grizzlies score, takeaways: Memphis staves off elimination, forces Game 6 in Los Angeles

Ja Morant and Desmond Bane had huge games, but Luke Kennard injury could loom large

The Memphis Grizzlies lost a heartbreaker on Monday when the Los Angeles Lakers stole Game 4 of their first-round series at home. On Wednesday, the Grizzlies returned the favor. The two sides battled in a close game for most of the first three quarters, but in a seven-minute stretch from the end of the third quarter through the beginning of the fourth, Memphis turned a one-point lead into a 25-point lead to secure the victory.

Anthony Davis gave the Lakers a chance with 31 points and 19 rebounds, but Ja Morant and Desmond Bane were unstoppable for the Grizzlies as they combined for 64 points to secure the victory. Now the series shifts back to California, where the Grizzlies, owners of a disappointing 16-27 record on the road this season, will attempt to even things up at three games apiece in Game 6. Here's everything you need to know about Game 5 while we eagerly await Friday's rematch:

The biggest injury yet

A trend that had grown increasingly clear throughout this series was Memphis playing well with Luke Kennard on the floor and badly with Dillon Brooks in his place. Through four games, the Grizzlies had a minus-14 point-differential with Brooks on the floor and a plus-13 point-differential with Kennard in the game. The contrast was even starker in Game 5. Memphis won the game by 17 points, but got outscored by seven with Brooks on the floor. It didn't matter because they were a staggering plus-26 with Kennard in his place.

The logic here is simple. The Grizzlies are a bad 3-point shooting team. The Lakers flat out refuse to guard Dillon Brooks beyond the arc. That allows them to muck things up in the paint, where Memphis does most of its scoring. Bringing in Kennard not only adds an elite 3-point shooter, but it opens up everything else the Grizzlies like to do. The theoretical tradeoff for doing so is a defensive dip. Brooks can defend LeBron James. Kennard is a liability against almost anyone. The Grizzlies prefer having Brooks in the game defensively so they can switch pick-and-rolls between James and Davis. 

At his peak, James would have hunted a defender like Kennard off of the floor by now. But through five games, it has become increasingly clear that he can't do that right now. Whether it's age or his foot injury, James can't punish the Grizzlies for playing Kennard. As such, it might behoove the Grizzlies to start Kennard over Brooks.

Here's the problem: Kennard left this game in the fourth quarter with a left shoulder injury. Kennard is a natural righty, but he shoots with his left hand. If he misses Game 6, the Grizzlies will have to stick with Brooks. If Taylor Jenkins had figured out that Kennard was the better player earlier, this might not be an issue. The Grizzlies might've won this series by now. Of course, they didn't, and now the Lakers might be in position to end this season with Kennard either limited or unavailable.

LeBron is LeBroken?

As we mentioned, James isn't attacking mismatches as aggressively as he has in the past. That might just be the reality of playing 20 years in the NBA. James isn't healthy. He's old. These are just realities. But if he's not getting to the rim, he has to be able to make up for those lost points with his jumpers. He hasn't done so in this series.

Through five games, he is 6 of 36 from 3-point range. To some extent, the Grizzlies deserved credit for that. James took only six wide-open 3's in the first four games of the series, meaning that the Grizzlies are at least still guarding him from deep. James hasn't compromised his team's spacing as Brooks has, and even as he continues missing, the Grizzlies will probably keep guarding him. James is a rhythm shooter, and the last thing Memphis wants is to give him room to figure this out. Space helps him as a passer as well, and then of course, there's the reputation factor. Would you really want to leave LeBron James open?

But the reality of the situation is that this Lakers team was not built for James to score 15 points. He needs to score 25. He and Davis are the only reliable scorers on the team. Austin Reaves doesn't do so at a high enough volume. D'Angelo Russell is too inconsistent. Whether it comes against the Grizzlies or someone else, James is going to shoot the Lakers out of the playoffs if these 3's don't start falling. He doesn't have to make 40% of them to justify the looks, but 17% just won't cut it.

Who does Darvin Ham trust?

Lonnie Walker IV made it into the game in the fourth quarter on Wednesday. These were the first competitive minutes that Walker has played in April. Darvin Ham's decision to drop him from the rotation was somewhat surprising given his early-season success, but his defensive limitations and inconsistent shot made it a necessity. Or at least, it seemed like one.

When the Lakers landed Beasley, they thought they'd found one of the best shooters in the NBA. He's made only five of his 3-point attempts against the Grizzlies. Troy Brown Jr. is only 1 of 10 from 3-point range, and his defense hasn't been good enough to justify those shooting numbers. Even Rui Hachimura seems to have lost some of his luster. He played only five minutes in the first half on Wednesday, and the Lakers lost those minutes by eight points.

At this point, Ham seems to be down to six trustworthy players. The starters can at least give him 25 minutes per night apiece. Dennis Schroder has earned his sixth man status. But after that? Anything is on the table. The Lakers even went back to Wenyen Gabriel in Game 5 because they were so desperate to get a rebound when Davis went to the bench. It didn't work. The Lakers lost his eight minutes by five points. Between now and Friday, Ham needs to figure out which two role players on his bench can at least give him 10-15 reliable minutes outside of that top six. If he doesn't? The Grizzlies are going to tie this thing up and force a Game 7 back in Memphis on Sunday.

[Apr 26, 2023 at 9:56 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

That'll do it

Grizzlies 116, Lakers 99. This was a one-point game in the third quarter. The Grizzlies blew it open from there. Now we head back to Los Angeles for Game 6 on Friday.

[Apr 26, 2023 at 9:49 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

Lonnie Walker auditioning

LeBron James is out of the game with four minutes and change remaining. Lonnie Walker has checked in, and it's hard not to wonder if he's auditioning for Malik Beasley's minutes. inGame 6.

[Apr 26, 2023 at 9:46 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

Luke Kennard is doubtful to return

This likely won't matter in Game 5, but Luke Kennard is doubtful to return due to a shoulder injury. That could really matter for Game 6. The Grizzlies are +26 with Kennard on the floor in this game. The Grizzlies will need him for Game 6.

[Apr 26, 2023 at 9:43 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

A hard fall by Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis just fell hard on his tailbone. This is why it made no sense for Darvin Ham to leave him in the game in a clear loss. Get him out of there. The reward is not worth the risk.

[Apr 26, 2023 at 9:41 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

What is Darvin Ham thinking?

The Lakers are down 19 with seven minutes to go... and LeBron James and Anthony Davis are still on the floor. What Darvin Ham is thinking... I cannot say. As Reggie Miller pointed out, you're one turned ankle away from your season being over. 

[Apr 26, 2023 at 9:28 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

At what point do the Lakers consider pulling their starters?

This is a 25-point game. The Lakers are an old, injury prone team. At a certain point, they're going to need to at least consider waving the white flag and preparing to play Game 6 at home. This isn't worth it.

[Apr 26, 2023 at 9:23 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

This one might be done

The Lakers were right there, down only one in the third quarter. But in the last four-and-a-half minutes, the Grizzlies have outscored them by 17 points. It's 94-76 in favor of the Grizzlies. We're probably headed back to Los Angeles for Game 6.

[Apr 26, 2023 at 9:21 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

This crowd is going wild

Yet another offensive rebound turns into yet another big Grizzlies bucket. What was a one-point game only a few minutes ago is suddenly a 14-point lead for the Grizzlies. If the Lakers are gonna make a run at this, it needs to happen now.

[Apr 26, 2023 at 9:17 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

Grizzlies answer back

That's a 7-0 Grizzlies run to turn a one-point lead into an eight-point lead. They're making just enough 3's and pulling in just enough offensive rebounds to stave off the Lakers, but this thing is far from over.

[Apr 26, 2023 at 9:16 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

A widening gap

That's 12 offensive rebounds for the Grizzlies and only six for the Lakers. That's the difference in this one-possession game. The Grizzlies are giving themselves second chances and the Lakers aren't.

[Apr 26, 2023 at 9:09 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

Ja Morant is a superstar

It's obvious, but Ja Morant is showing just why he's a superstar. He's making the shots the Lakers are giving him, those pull-up 3's that nearly swung the end of Game 3. He's attacking mismatches, killing D'Angelo Russell on that last post-up. He has 25 points in a must-win game for the Grizzlies. They needed a superstar performance to keep this series going and he's delivered.

[Apr 26, 2023 at 9:07 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

Uh-oh Vando

That charge was the fourth foul on Jarred Vanderbilt. That's a huge blow for the Lakers because Vanderbilt is guarding Ja Morant. The last thing the Lakers need is a Morant explosion, so Dennis Schroder has a very important task ahead of him.

[Apr 26, 2023 at 9:04 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

Refusing to guard Brooks

Dillon Brooks just made his second 3-pointer... but he's missed six of them. The Lakers are determined not to guard him. If he punishes them? So be it. The extra resources he is allowing the Lakers to spend elsewhere defensively are well worth it.