San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
DESPERATE GRIZZLIES BEAT LAKERS TO END SKID
The Memphis Grizzlies snapped their five-game losing streak by beating the team they could face in the playoffs if they hold on to the last spot in the Western Conference.
Rookie Ja Morant had 27 points and matched his season high with 14 assists, and the Grizzlies beat the visiting Los Angeles Lakers 105-88 on Saturday night.
“We just locked in, stayed focused, learned from our losses and came out and played a full 48 (minutes),” Morant said. “We were able to come out with a great win.”
Dillon Brooks added 24 points and Jonas Valanciunas had 22 points and 20 rebounds as the Grizzlies helped their chances of keeping the eighth spot in the West. Memphis holds a 21⁄2-game edge on the New Orleans Pelicans, who were idle Saturday night and play the Lakers today. The San Antonio Spurs, who beat Orlando 114-113 on Saturday night, trail Memphis by three.
“We knew they were going to play with desperation. They are currently the eighth seed in the playoffs and lost five straight,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. “Our guys have done a great job most of the year of playing with energy and matching the home team. We just fell short of that.”
Lebron James had 19 points and 10 assists, while Anthony Davis finished with 15 points and nine rebounds as Los Angeles lost for only the second time in February. The 88 points was a season low for the Lakers, who shot 41 percent for the game, including only 9 of 36 from 3point range.
The Lakers, the top team in the West, entered the game on a seven-game winning streak, but trailed by as many as 22 in the third quarter as Memphis continued to get balanced scoring. The Lakers brought James into more of an active role and a couple of 3-pointers started the second half.
But Memphis continued to extend the lead and held an 86-66 advantage entering the fourth.
The Memphis lead dropped to single digits with just under 7 minutes left after a 7-0 Lakers run. But Memphis immediately built the lead back to 18 near the threeminute mark, and Vogel put in his reserves.
“They just played a great game. Shot the ball extremely well from the perimeter,” James said. “Ja made four 3s. Dillon was really good all game and Valanciunas, I think he had like 50 rebounds the last two games.”
The Grizzlies hadn’t won since the All-star break and their hold on the final playoff spot had started to dwindle.
“We understand there’s going to be adversity,” Morant said. “So, there’s no reason to panic. We’re going to control what we can. That’s how we play on the floor.”
Hawks 129, Trail Blazers 117: Trae Young had 25 points and 15 assists, John Collins added 24 points and 10 rebounds and the Hawks beat visiting Portland for their second straight victory.
Rockets 111, Celtics 110: Russell Westbrook scored 41 points on 16-of-27 shooting as visiting Houston outlasted Boston in overtime:
Pacers 113, Cavaliers 104: T.J. Warren scored 30 points, Malcolm Brogdon hit the goahead basket midway through the fourth quarter and visiting Indiana beat Cleveland.
Heat 116, Nets 113: Kendrick Nunn scored 21 points as host Miami held off Brooklyn.
Knicks 125, Bulls 115: Reserve Mitchell Robinson had a career-high 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Julius Randle added 22 points and 10 boards and New York beat visiting Chicago to snap a sixgame losing streak.
Warriors 115, Suns 99: Eric Paschall scored 25 points, Damion Lee added 20 and visiting Golden State snapped an eight-game losing streak with a win over Phoenix.
Spurs 114, Magic 113: Trey Lyles scored 20 points and Rudy Gay added 19 off the bench as host San Antonio held off an Orlando rally.