The Los Angeles Lakers are aiming to maintain their positive momentum as they travel to Memphis for their Wednesday night game against the Grizzlies. This matchup is the second game of a six-game road trip for the Lakers. According to the current NBA lines, the Lakers are favored by 7.5 points even though they are playing away from home.
The Lakers started their road trip with a game against the Milwaukee Bucks, during which they made an impressive comeback in the fourth quarter, erasing a 19-point deficit. Despite not having LeBron James in the lineup, the Lakers managed to survive a double overtime thriller. This result boosts their confidence for the remainder of the trip.
In the Western Conference standings, the Lakers are currently 2.5 games ahead of the Golden State Warriors and are trailing the Phoenix Suns by two games. With only ten games left in the season, the Lakers find themselves in a promising position. They currently hold the 9th spot in the conference, positioning them well for a play-in tournament berth. However, they also have realistic aspirations of securing a top 6 finish, despite being considered underdogs according to NBA odds. They have surpassed other important rivals and are just below the Suns in the standings, making them poised for a crucial surge towards the end of the season.
Although the Lakers’ victory on Tuesday was crucial, it came at a cost. Anthony Davis played 52 minutes, the most since Kobe Bryant’s performance in 2012, and he battled a knee injury sustained in the fourth quarter. Nevertheless, Davis delivered an outstanding performance with 34 points, 23 rebounds, two steals, and four blocks.
As a result, Davis has been ruled out of the game against the Grizzlies due to a left knee hyperextension. On the other hand, LeBron James will return to the lineup after sitting out the game against the Bucks due to an ankle issue.
Since their last meeting on January 5th, the Grizzlies have undergone significant changes. They pulled off a surprising victory over the Lakers in that game, winning 127-113. However, many of their rising stars, including Ja Morant, Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, Derrick Rose, John Konchar, Vince Williams Jr., Yuta Watanabe, and Ziare Williams, are currently unavailable due to injuries.
Despite their disappointing 24-48 record, injuries have plagued the Grizzlies’ season after they held the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference last year. However, they still have some firepower with the recent return of Desmond Bane from an extended absence and the availability of reigning Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. Additionally, Brandon Clarke is making his season debut after recovering from a year-long Achilles injury.
For the Lakers, it is crucial to focus on containing Bane and Jackson right from the start of the game. At this stage of the season, the Grizzlies have less pressure and are more well-rested than the Lakers. If the Grizzlies can gain some early confidence, it could be a challenging night for the Lakers.