Morant fires Grizzles over Lakers
LOS ANGELES: Ja Morant scored 41 points to power the Memphis Grizzles to a third straight NBA victory on Wednesday, a 104-99 come-frombehind win over LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Morant, whose last-second basket lifted the Grizzles to a 114-113 win over the Phoenix Suns on Monday, scored a career-high six three-pointers.
He spearheaded the Grizzlies’ comeback from a 14-point thirdquarter deficit, delivering 25 points in the second half as Memphis consolidated their fourth-place position in the Western Conference.
The Phoenix Suns, meanwhile, tied the Golden State Warriors atop the West with an 115-97 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Lakers were ultimately undone by 18 turnovers in an often sloppy performance that wasted a stellar 37point effort from James. James, on the eve of his 37th birthday, tied a career-high with eight three-pointers and pulled down 13 rebounds.
Along with James’s 14th game this season of 30 or more points Russell Westbrook added a triple-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists.
But when the Grizzlies offense warmed up in the second half the Lakers couldn’t respond and lost for the sixth time in seven games just a day after ending a five-game skid.
“I was taking what the defense gave me and it turned out good for us,” Morant said. “That’s normally how I attack every game. Tonight was just my night.”
It was 22-year-old Morant’s second big game against the Lakers this season, after he scored 40 points against them in October.
“The guy is a true superstar,” said Lakers coach David Fizdale.