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Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves lead Lakers to Game 1 victory, as Grizzlies suffer blow with Ja Morant’s injury
On Sunday, LeBron James played a less prominent role while Anthony Davis caused concern for Lakers supporters with a potential injury.
The outcome was unaffected by the injury as the seventh-ranked Lakers pulled off a shocking 128-112 victory over the second-seeded Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1, giving them a 1-0 edge in the series. Ja Morant, on the other hand, had to exit the final quarter due to an injury.
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The scoring was led by Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves while the Lakers made a strong comeback in the second half, supported by Davis who returned after an apparent shoulder injury in the first half. The Lakers finished with a 15-0 run that was fueled by their exceptional shooting from beyond the arc, and this run helped them dominate the second half. The Lakers were leading 113-112 with 3:11 remaining, but the 15-0 run allowed them to blow open the game.
The victory further emphasized the Lakers’ successful midseason acquisitions that led to an 18-9 record post-trade deadline, allowing them to recover from a sluggish start and clinch a playoff berth. On the other hand, Memphis suffered only their seventh home loss of the season, having the best home record of 35-6 in the league during the regular season. However, Morant’s injury takes center stage in Memphis, as the team aims to avoid falling into a 0-2 deficit.
Morant leaves late with an injury
After a rough fall on his right hand in the fourth quarter, Morant exited the game. At around 5:48 left on the clock, he moved toward the rim and collapsed to the ground after colliding with Anthony Davis, resulting in an offensive foul. He quickly retreated to the locker room.
Ja Morant quickly went to the locker room after this play.
(🎥: @espn)pic.twitter.com/ihuaqEUmrs
— theScore (@theScore) April 16, 2023
The player came back to the bench with a bandage on his hand but did not participate in the rest of the game. Coach Taylor Jenkins informed the press that the X-rays taken on Morant’s hand did not show any damage, however, Morant himself expressed concern over his ability to play in Game 2 and rated his pain as a “10.”
Role players of Lakers take over
In the meantime, the Lakers struggled with a poor 3-point shooting performance of 5-for-18 during the first half. However, in the second half, they made a strong comeback with Hachimura and Reaves leading the way, ultimately winning Game 1 while playing away from home. Hachimura, who was obtained from the Washington Wizards earlier this year, had an outstanding game, scoring 29 points, the highest in the game, and making 11 out of 14 field goal attempts and 5 out of 6 shots from 3-point range.
During the Lakers game, Hachimura scored two consecutive 3-point shots that contributed to their 91-85 lead and helped them score 37 points in the third quarter. Prior to this game, his highest record for points scored with the Lakers was only 20.
Back-to-back triples from Hachimura 🎯 pic.twitter.com/0yca2iN6SW
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 16, 2023
In the fourth quarter, Reaves contributed to the Lakers’ strong finish, as they outscored their opponents 32-22 during that period. The Lakers had a 15-0 run in the final minutes of the game. Reaves scored a total of 23 points, with 14 of them being in the fourth quarter. He shot 8-of-13 from the floor, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. This was his first playoff game. The Lakers, as a team, had a 43.2% shooting percentage from 3-point range, which was a significant improvement for a team that previously struggled with long-range shooting before their mid-season transformation.
Anthony Davis was powerful before and after his injury scare
Davis, on the other hand, made his mark in the post and on defense, dispelling concerns about his brief departure in the second quarter due to a shoulder injury. During an offensive rebound with 1:15 left in the half, he clutched his right arm in agony after making contact and promptly stated, “My arm won’t budge.” Nevertheless, he was able to overcome the injury and continue playing effectively.
"I can't move my arm."
Anthony Davis has left the game and is heading to the locker room. pic.twitter.com/gJ6wtEybXd
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) April 16, 2023
According to reports, he was said to have suffered a stinger but was able to come back for the third quarter without any apparent worsening of the injury. He played a crucial role in the Lakers’ defense during the first half of the game, scoring 10 points, grabbing 6 rebounds, and blocking 4 shots while consistently contesting the Grizzlies’ attempts in the post.
Anthony Davis vs Ja Morant pic.twitter.com/EID8nHTbEo
— x – Alex 👋 (@Dubs408) April 16, 2023
Throughout the second half of the game, he maintained his impressive performance and ultimately recorded 22 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 5 blocks. He persistently pushed toward the basket on the offensive end and actively defended against the Grizzlies’ scoring attempts, effectively dispelling any doubts about his shoulder.
James had a performance of 21 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals, which appeared to be subdued in comparison to the impressive displays by Lakers players in supporting roles.
The Grizzlies were led by Jaren Jackson Jr., who scored 31 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, dished out 4 assists, secured 1 steal, and made 2 blocks. This impressive performance is a continuation of his outstanding season, and he is now seen as the top contender for the Defensive Player of the Year award. Desmond Bane also contributed greatly to the team’s success with 22 points, while Morant finished with 18 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals.
The Grizzlies had a shooting percentage of 47.2% from the field and 36.1% from beyond the arc. However, these numbers proved insufficient to defeat the Lakers, who notched a 53.3% shooting percentage from the field. The Lakers also dominated the rebounding battle, pulling down 45 rebounds compared to the Grizzlies’ 34, and blocked 11 shots by the Grizzlies while Memphis only managed to block two shots.
The second game will take place on Wednesday in Memphis.
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