The Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies faced off in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series, which proved to be a hard-fought battle. The game was filled with intense physicality, with both teams fighting for every possession as if it were their last. The match ended up going into overtime, as neither team could secure the win within regulation.
However, it was LeBron James who stepped up for the Lakers and sent the game into overtime with a crucial driving layup with 0.8 seconds left in regulation. The Grizzlies’ Desmond Bane had previously put his team ahead with a layup with just 6.7 seconds remaining. LeBron James continued to dominate in overtime, sealing the deal for the Lakers with another driving layup, scoring the last of his team-leading 22 points. He also added 20 rebounds, seven assists, and two blocked shots while committing just one turnover in his record 270th playoff game.
In addition to LeBron James’ outstanding performance, the Lakers’ victory was also due to the efforts of other players, including Austin Reaves, who scored a team-leading 23 points, and D’Angelo Russell, who had 17 points, including three 3-pointers in a row to give the Lakers a brief lead. Jarred Vanderbilt also scored 15 points, with 10 of those coming in the first quarter, while Anthony Davis had 12 points and 11 rebounds. Dennis Schroder also provided relentless defensive pressure on Ja Morant in a reserve role, adding 12 points to the Lakers’ total.
The Lakers’ win was a team effort, and head coach Darvin Ham acknowledged the contributions of all his players. He particularly praised Russell, who caught fire offensively when the team was struggling, putting the Lakers on his back and giving them a chance to win.
With this win, the Lakers now lead the series 3-1, putting them one game away from the second round. Game 5 will take place in Memphis on Wednesday, with Game 6 scheduled for Friday night at Crypto.com Arena if necessary. LeBron James expressed his determination to win the series, stating that he was willing to dig deep and fight for every possession until the end.