Lakers vs. Grizzlies score, takeaways: Memphis takes down L.A. without Ja Morant to even series at 1-1

Xavier Tillman played hero for Memphis on Wednesday night

No Ja Morant? No problem for the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night as they, essentially, controlled their matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers for all four quarters to even their best-of-seven series at 1-1 with a 103-93 victory. Thanks largely in part to a standout performance from Xavier Tillman, who finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds on 10-13 shooting, Memphis was able to pick up a big win and hold off a late run by LeBron James and the Lakers.

Now, these two teams will have another extended break with Game 3 in Los Angeles coming on Saturday. If Morant is healthy enough to go at that point, the Grizzlies could have a real opportunity to retake control of this series with a win on the road. If LeBron James is the only Lakers player who is efficient from the floor on Saturday, as Anthony Davis and D'Angelo Russell both struggled from the field tonight, it could be an uphill battle for Los Angeles if they want to take a 2-1 series lead. 

Here are the three biggest takeaways from Game 2.

1. Ancient shot-selection

The Lakers largely won Game 1 of this series from behind the arc. After starting the game 5-of-20 from deep, they proceeded to shoot 11-of-17 the rest of the way. It was, in part, a response to the defense the Grizzlies were playing. They helped off of just about every Laker shooter, and those shooters went on to punish them for it. The Grizzlies even acknowledged it after the game and effectively dared the Lakers to do it again.

Well, when the dust settled on Game 2, the Lakers had attempted only 26 3-pointers. At the trade deadline, they reshaped their entire supporting cast around the idea that LeBron James—especially in his 20th season—desperately needed more shooting around him. Yet on Wednesday, James attempted eight of their 26 3-pointers. That's over 30% of their total. The supporting cast that was added to shoot refused to even fire away.

The Grizzlies deserve some credit for that. They were more disciplined defensively, especially when it came to sticking to shooters. But the Memphis defense is still clearly oriented toward rim protection. Time and time again, a Laker drove into traffic, desperately tried to pass out of it, and turned the ball over in the process. In Game 1, the Lakers shot through the misses are were rewarded for it with a second-half explosion. That has to be their approach moving forward. They aren't beating the Defensive Player of the Year in the paint.

2. Tillman is the man

Jaren Jackson Jr. has been the best overall Grizzlies player in this series. There's an obvious solution that: let Anthony Davis defend him. The Lakers have largely avoided that matchup. Defending Jackson is a full-time job. Stick Davis on a lesser player, though, and he can give most of his attention to playing help defense. That's how he's racked up 12 blocks in two games. That lesser player, for the most part, has been Xavier Tillman.

Here's the twist: Tillman wasn't a lesser player on Wednesday. He was the leading scorer for the Grizzlies with 22 points on 10-of-13 shooting. To some extent, that was unavoidable. Tillman made four 3-pointers this season. If he wants to fire away from deep, guarding him would be irresponsible. But Davis needed to do a better job of balancing his help responsibilities with the man he was actually meant to guard. When he wasn't on Tillman, the rest of the team was even worse.

Right now, the Lakers are a small team. LeBron James is their backup center. That makes them vulnerable against just about any big man if his team is good enough at getting him the ball. That was the case on Wednesday, and it helped swing the game back to Memphis. 

3. One-way players

The Lakers seemingly did the impossible at the trade deadline when they managed to turn Russell Westbrook and only a single first-round pick into three usable role players: D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt. The reason this group cost only a single first-round pick? They are explicitly one-way players. Russell and Beasley play offense. Vanderbilt plays defense.

You can get away with having one-way players if they're actually thriving on the end of the floor they were acquired for. Things get a lot harder when they don't. The Grizzlies hunted D'Angelo Russell on almost every possession down the stretch. The idea was to get him isolated onto Desmond Bane, who frequently turned those matchups into free throws or good shots. If Russell had been making shots? The Lakers could've managed that weakness. But he shot 2-of-11 in Game 2. He wasn't helping on either end of the floor, and that was almost impossible for the Lakers to overcome when he played 30 total minutes.

There are moments when the same is true of Vanderbilt. When Ja Morant is healthy, Vanderbilt is a necessity in this series. He's the only Laker that can reliably stick with him defensively. Vanderbilt still played well defensively on Wednesday, but he wasn't as essential, and he cramped the Lakers' spacing. In the end, more Rui Hachimura might've been necessary.

There are teams that need to stick with rigid rotations. Certain players are more comfortable doing so, and there are rosters designed to stick with the same players every night. The Lakers have to be flexible. A player's flaws can only kill you when that player is actually on the floor. If Russell or Vanderbilt isn't justifying their minutes on one of the floor, then they might need to go to the bench for most of the night so the Lakers can lean on the players who are actually playing well.

[Apr 19, 2023 at 9:55 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

This one is done

A long 3-pointer for Dillon Brooks pushes the Grizzlies lead to 11 and this one is done. The Grizzlies will tie this series 1-1 as it shifts back to Los Angeles.

[Apr 19, 2023 at 9:54 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

Switch-hunting

Desmond Bane is aggressively hunting D'Angelo Russell every time down the floor. If he's going to do that, the Lakers might have to close with Dennis Schroder.

[Apr 19, 2023 at 9:52 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

Bane saving the Grizzlies with whistles

Back to back trips to the line for Desmond Bane. It might be time to get D'Angelo Russell out of the game. That is a matchup the Grizzlies are looking for.

[Apr 19, 2023 at 9:49 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

Keeping the ball out of Jackson's hands

The Lakers are aggressively fronting Jaren Jackson to try to keep the ball out of Jaren Jackson's hands. The Lakers want the Grizzlies to beat them with jumpers.

[Apr 19, 2023 at 9:45 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

The stretch run

This is it. The Grizzlies lead the Lakers by eight. Lakers have the ball. One run can swing this game. How many times have we seen LeBron James and Anthony Davis do just that? The Grizzlies are a few buckets away from tying this series. Without Ja Morant, that would be a major victory.

[Apr 19, 2023 at 9:42 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

Missed opportunities

The Lakers aren't getting many open looks. That makes the few they do get invaluable. When they look back on this game tomorrow, they're going to see far too many missed opportunities.

[Apr 19, 2023 at 9:38 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

Brooks gets away with one

Ball don't lie. Dillon Brooks just leveled Austin Reaves. He didn't get a whistle. But because this is Dillon Brooks we're talking about, he of course followed it up with another obvious foul, this one on LeBron James. That one was called.

[Apr 19, 2023 at 9:35 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

Are the Lakers going to adjust?

The Lakers won Game 1 by making 16 3-pointers. The Memphis game-plan was to help off of their shooters and protect the basket. The Lakers played along and made their shots on Sunday. They refuse to even try tonight, attempting just 19 3-pointers in total. That has led to their 11 turnovers. They're forcing the issue inside instead of taking what the defense gives them.

[Apr 19, 2023 at 9:30 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

The same turnover, over and over

Every time the Lakers try to pass from one player in the paint to another, it's a turnover. That's what happens when you force the issue inside against a defense that is daring you to shoot jumpers. 

[Apr 19, 2023 at 9:23 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

The Lakers are running out of time

The Lakers trimmed the lead down to six at one point, but a couple of huge 3-pointers as well as some great interior defense has allowed Memphis to build the lead back up to 12. It's 83-71 with 12 minutes remaining. If the Lakers are going to make a run, it has to happen here and now.

[Apr 19, 2023 at 9:19 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

David Roddy is the difference

David Roddy shot below 31% on 3's this year, but he's 3-of-6 today. His third 3-pointer made it a nine-point game. That has been one of the biggest differences of the game. If Roddy misses, the Lakers are in control.

[Apr 19, 2023 at 9:11 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

Clawing their way back in...

The lead was 20 points at one point. It's down to nine after a 14-3 Lakers run. If this thing is in single digits in the fourth quarter, who are you going to trust to finish it: LeBron James or Tyus Jones? The Grizzlies need to get some separation now, while they have the chance.

[Apr 19, 2023 at 9:09 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

Desmond Bane in foul trouble

Uh-oh, Desmond Bane one just picked up his fourth foul of the game. He's staying in the game, but the Grizzlies can't afford to let him pick up No. 5. Without Ja Morant, they desperately need Bane on the floor to generate half-court offense.

[Apr 19, 2023 at 9:04 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

Some heated words

LeBron James and Dillon Brooks traded a few words after that last bucket from the king. Remember, before this series, Brooks said he wanted to face the Lakers in the first round so he could knock LeBron out early. Well, he got his wish. Now we'll see if James can punish him for it.

[Apr 19, 2023 at 9:01 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

LeBron getting aggressive

The Grizzlies led by as many as 20, but back-to-back baskets for LeBron James has it down to 14. He's now 7-of-13 from the floor for 16 points, but again, he's settling for a lot of jumpers with Dillon Brooks in front of him and Jaren Jackson Jr. waiting at the rim. Can he make those shots? He's only 1-of-5 from 3 thus far tonight.