MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Ja Morant tallied 20 points before exiting the game in the third quarter due to a right hamstring injury, as the Memphis Grizzlies triumphed over the Los Angeles Lakers with a score of 131-114 on Wednesday evening.
Alongside Morant, rookie Jaylen Wells and Jaren Jackson Jr. also contributed 20 points each to the Grizzlies’ victory. As of now, there is no further information regarding the severity of Morant’s injury.
LeBron James spearheaded the Lakers’ efforts with an impressive 39 points, while Austin Reaves added 19 points to the tally, although he struggled with his shooting, finishing 2 for 9 from beyond the arc.
The Lakers were notably undermanned, as they played without their starting center, Anthony Davis, who was sidelined due to soreness in his left heel. Rui Hachimura also missed the game due to illness, allowing rookie Dalton Knect, hailing from Tennessee, to make his first start in the NBA.
In a personal matter, Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins was absent from the game due to a family bereavement, with assistant coach Tuomas Iisalo stepping up to guide the team in his place.
**Key Takeaways**
Lakers: The absence of Davis resulted in a loss of 32.6 points and 11.6 rebounds per game for the Lakers, weakening their frontline significantly. Although James tried to fill the scoring void, he received minimal assistance from his teammates.
Grizzlies: The lack of Davis allowed Memphis to operate effectively in the paint, matching their typical output of 60 points in that area.
**Crucial Moment**
The Grizzlies were ahead 72-68 in the third quarter when substitute Jay Huff, a towering 7-foot-1 center, hit three consecutive 3-point baskets. He capped off this impressive stretch with an offensive rebound leading to a reverse dunk, extending Memphis’ lead to 85-71.
**Noteworthy Statistic**
While both teams do not frequently shoot 3-pointers compared to the league average, the Grizzlies were on fire, shooting 48% from beyond the arc by the fourth quarter’s midpoint. In contrast, the Lakers’ performance had them languishing at just 25%.
**Upcoming Matches**
The Lakers are set to host the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday, while the Grizzlies will welcome the Washington Wizards for their next contest.