Grizzlies vs Lakers Game Day Preview
On Jan. 20, 2023, Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies will face off against the LeBron James Los Angeles Lakers in the Crypto.com arena.
After an emphatic victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Grizzlies extended their historic run to 11 straight victories.
Steven Adams (4) facing Jarrett Allen (31) and the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 18, 2023 | Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images
Ja Morant’s role as the main facilitator played a huge factor in the team’s win. Morant led the team in assists, dishing out eight dimes and also provided 24 points.
Dillon Brooks’, despite having an extremely off night, was also a key contributor to the Grizzlies dub. Brooks only hit four shots out of the 12 he attempted, but his late game defense made up tremendously for his performance.
Following Morant’s clutch go-ahead bucket to secure a Memphis lead with under ten seconds left, Brooks was forced to guard Darius Garland, who was Cleveland’s primary scorer, for the final possession.
Brooks forced two stops within the same possession, one of them resulting in a game-winning block, which allowed the Beale Street crew to throw yet another parade inside the city.
A triumphant Desmond Bane (22) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) | Justin Ford/Getty Images
Meanwhile in the LAX, the Los Angeles Lakers continue to fight their way to a .500 win percentage. LeBron James continues to put the team on his back, putting up career numbers during his 20th season.
In the last Lakers performance, they faced off against a very familiar rival, the Sacramento Kings. The Lakers fell to the Kings, 116 to 111, wasting yet another excellent performance from LeBron James.
LeBron James was the only starter on the team to put up double figures (32). In fact, James had more points than all of the starters combined.
LeBron James (6) high fives Head Coach Darvin Ham, January 18, 2023 | NBAE via Getty Images
Despite the Grizzlies and the Lakers having two completely different seasons in terms of success, this game will be a must-watch for basketball fans.
The last time the two teams faced off, there was clear tension between the two teams. The young Memohis team appeared to be trash talking which is pretty common in the game of basketball. That was until a heated altercation between LeBron James and Desmond Bane occurred.
The heated discussion sparked after a James foul on Bane. Bane proceeded to bump into LeBron, which caused him to quickly express his disapproval. The players and referees de-escalated the situation, but LeBron continued to chirp at the Memphis guard.
Although fans are predicting an easy victory for the Grizzlies, this will still be a hard fought battle between two of the most electrifying stars in the National Basketball Association.
