Grizzlies vs. Lakers: A Close Game Ends in Victory for LA

LOS ANGELES — With just over five minutes remaining on Friday night, the Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Lakers were engaged in a tightly contested match, with the largest lead over the past three minutes being merely one point.

Grizzlies’ backup center Jock Landale attempted to post up Lakers guard Marcus Smart but ended up losing the ball to Jake LaRavia. Luka Dončić aimed to deliver a long alley-oop to Jaxson Hayes, but the pass missed the mark, hitting the rim as if Dončić was shooting.

Fortunately for the Lakers, Jarred Vanderbilt gained control of the loose ball, indicating it was their first clutch time scenario since December 18 against Utah. The NBA defines clutch time as the final five minutes of a game when the score is within five points. The Lakers had played the fewest clutch minutes (24) and games (10) in the league this season.

Although every NBA team has suffered at least three losses in clutch situations, the Lakers entered this match with an unblemished 10-0 record in such scenarios. While the Lakers can sometimes struggle against strong teams or blow leads—like when the Grizzlies recovered from deficits of 13 and 15 points—this close game was unprecedented for the Lakers, being the first time this season they were tied after three quarters.

However, when it came down to clutch time, the Lakers proved their worth, outlasting the Grizzlies 128-121 to improve their record to 21-11. In games without clutch time, they sit at 10-11, indicative of their struggles despite a winning overall record.

Despite the small sample size of clutch minutes, the Lakers’ defense has significantly improved compared to last season when they ranked 20th in clutch time. This year, they hold the league’s best clutch defense, allowing only 89.8 points per 100 possessions in 26 minutes of such play, highlighting their capacity to elevate their game when it matters most.

With standout performances from players like Smart and Dončić contributing to the win, the Lakers will face the Grizzlies again on Sunday, aiming for consecutive victories for the first time in two weeks. “We made some big-time plays offensively,” said LeBron James after scoring 31 points, emphasizing the importance of team synergy and defensive stops that propelled them forward.