Kuzma goes on run to lift Lakers
The rookie forward scores 15 points in the fourth quarter to help end four-game skid.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Kyle Kuzma went on a 7-0 run by himself in the fourth quarter that gave the Lakers their first lead since the first play of the game.
The Grizzlies still made the Lakers work for it, but the Lakers prevailed 100-93 and ended a fourgame losing streak Saturday at Fed Ex Forum.
“I’m very competitive,” Kuzma said. “Those first three quarters I really didn’t shoot the ball pretty well, just told myself I wasn’t going to lose this game and I just really tried to lock in.”
Kuzma scored all but 10 of his game-high 25 points in the fourth quarter, making nine of 21 shots overall to go along with 10 rebounds. Julius Randle scored 20 points with 11 rebounds, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 18 with five rebounds and Lonzo Ball had 12 points and 10 assists.
Ball was two rebounds shy of his third triple-double of the season, but he continued his streak of games in which he made only one three-pointer. On Saturday, Ball made one of six three-pointers he attempted, but went inside more frequently. He scored on four of seven two-point attempts.
“Making it more of a focal point to get inside especially when my shot’s not dropping,” Ball said. “I can get in there pretty much all the time. Just gotta get in there and create buckets.”
The Grizzlies were coming off a game they lost by 61 points to the Charlotte Hornets, and that kind of team can be dangerous. The last time the Lakers faced a team that had just been embarrassed, it was the Orlando Magic who were just coming off a game in which they allowed James Harden a triple-double and 60 points. The Magic then beat the Lakers by 22 points.
Lakers coach Luke Walton warned his players of the danger of facing a team looking to avenge their pride. They got the Grizzlies’ best shot early.
“This is almost like a setup game for us,” Randle said. “You knew they were going to come out swinging. After kind of getting embarrassed. They were going to come out hard, playing hard and giving us their best shot. Nobody wants to lose by that much. They fought really hard.”
Memphis led by 17 points in the first quarter. At halftime that lead had been cut to five and by the start of the fourth quarter the game was tied at 71. The Lakers held the Grizzlies to 14 points in the third quarter and only five for 19 shooting. The Lakers allowed only 12 points in the paint in the second half after giving up 34 in the first half.
“We were more physical, we were engaged, we were communicating,” Walton said. “There’s no secret to playing good defense, it’s communication, it’s effort, and we did. It’s ultimately why we gave ourselves a chance to win, was because of the way we started playing defense.”
Thomas gets rest
game and he will not play Monday in Detroit, for the Lakers’ final game of this four-game trip. Thomas experienced soreness in his right hip.
“I tell all our players to be honest about how you’re feeling and how you need, especially the guys that have been around the league for a little bit,” Walton said. “He said it’s been sore and he thinks a couple days off will help, so I said of course.”
Thomas is still recovering from a more serious injury to that hip. He suffered a torn labrum during the 2017 playoffs that kept him out for most of his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Thomas was traded to the Cavaliers in August, but played only 15 games with the team before being traded to the Lakers.
Since joining the Lakers, he has come off the bench and averaged 15.6 points in 26.8 minutes per game.
Thomas did not participate in the Lakers’ shoot-around Saturday in Memphis.
Etc.
Gary Payton II will rejoin the Lakers on Sunday in Detroit. Payton is on a two-way contract. He has used all of his 45 days with the Lakers but may return now that the regular season of the South Bay Lakers, the Lakers’ developmental affiliate, has ended. … Alex Caruso has a concussion. He is also on a two-way contract and will re-join the Lakers once he is healthy. … Luol Deng suffered an ankle injury in an optional practice Friday. Deng did not dress because of injury for the first time this season. He has not played in the Lakers’ last 70 games and the team has no plans of playing him even if he is healthy.