At last, the Lakers were able to pair a strong defensive showing with even just an above-average offensive game on Sunday. The result was one of their best wins of the season, knocking off the Grizzlies, who had won 10 of their last 11 games.
After head coach JJ Redick called Friday the team’s best defensive game of the year, the Lakers returned home and completely shut down the Grizzlies’ offense. Memphis shot just 39.2% from the field and 32.1% from the 3-point line while turning the ball over 20 times.
The one negative on the night on that end was the 30 free throws Memphis shot thanks to 27 Lakers fouls, allowing the visitors to stay in the game. Still, the lead never got to even within two possessions in the fourth quarter as the Lakers did enough to hold off Memphis for their best win at least since the beginning of the season and perhaps the season overall.
So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
Rui Hachimura
38 minutes, 8 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 2-5 FG, 0-1 3PT, 4-6 FT, +13
After gaining a reputation as a Grizzlies killer, Rui did it differently on Sunday. While it was a pretty mundane game offensively, that was perhaps his best game of the year defensively.
Matched up against a Grizzlies frontcourt that isn’t quite as fast, Rui excelled on that end. He was active — maybe a bit too much with five fouls — and was an important part of the team’s success defensively.
Grade: B+
LeBron James
34 minutes, 18 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 7-17 FG, 3-6 3PT, 1-4 FT, +0
After eight days off and most of the last week spent away from the team, LeBron returned and looked very refreshed at the beginning of the game. He flew out of the gates on both ends and really set a tone.
After that, he faded into the background and let AD do the work. Still, he came up with a big bucket late and had three stocks on the night, too. A solid return to the court.
Grade: B+
Anthony Davis
33 minutes, 40 points, 16 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 15-22 FG, 1-4 3PT, 9-12 FT, +14
Welcome back, MVP AD.
Something about playing Memphis and Jaren Jackson Jr. really fires up AD. He was dominant from the start and scored 40 despite missing a chunk of the second half with a shoulder stinger.
There also could not have been a funnier way to reach 40 points than the last dunk late.
Grade: A+
Max Christie
29 minutes, 7 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1-3 FG, 1-2 3PT, 4-4 FT, +7
For the first time in eight games spanning over two weeks, the Lakers had each of LeBron, AD, Rui and Austin Reaves available. With Knecht slumping, the question of who the fifth starter would be was broached pregame.
Redick said he wanted a point-of-attack defender who could also complement the other four offensively, basically forecasting Christie being the fifth starter.
For one night at least, it looked great. Christie had a superb defensive game, often matched up against Ja Morant and helping hold him to 6-21 shooting.
He’s the right mix of the defense Reddish brought and the offense Knecht brought…when he’s playing well. Hopefully, that’s for an extended time now.
Grade: A-
Austin Reaves
36 minutes, 19 points, 2 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, 6-15 FG, 2-8 3PT, 5-5 FT, +11
After struggling a bit in his return on Friday, Reaves looked back to his old self on Sunday. He did a bit of both scoring and playmaking on offense, as he typically does. His shot wasn’t falling from range but he made four of his seven inside the arc.
Defensively, though, he helped keep Desmond Bane quiet as he had just seven points on eight shots.
Grade: A-
D’Angelo Russell
17 minutes, 7 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2-7 FG, 2-6 3PT, 1-2 FT, -7
The break in the schedule could not have come at a worse time for D’Lo. After looking great against the Blazers, Russell has struggled the last two games.
He finished 4-17 from the field, 3-13 from the arc and a -15 combined against Minnesota and Memphis. Hopefully, another week off re-resets(?) him to his pre-break form.
Grade: D
Gabe Vincent
14 minutes, 3 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 1-3 FG, 1-3 3PT, -3
Out of the starting lineup, Vincent looked back to his old, frustrating self. His old make was an off-balance 3-pointer he banked in.
He brought it defensively, but, yeah, it’s the same song and dance. He can’t produce at this level and remain in the rotation.
Grade: D-
Dalton Knecht
13 minutes, 5 points, 3 rebounds, 2-4 FG, 0-2 3PT, 1-2 FT, -2
Knecht is fully in a funk at this point and his minutes reflect that. Sunday was the fewest minutes he’s played since the start of November.
I have confidence he’ll break out of it eventually, but until he does, his minutes will only go down.
Grade: D
Christian Koloko
12 minutes, 1 point, 1-2 FT, -11
The first half minutes from Koloko were good on Sunday. The second half minutes when AD left with an injury were not. Memphis’ size really impacted Koloko as Zach Edey had his way at the rim.
Grade: D
Cam Reddish
14 minutes, 8 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 3-6 FG, 0-2 3PT, 2-2 FT, +8
On one hand, this was a strong defensive game from Reddish. He chipped in some points offensive as well as a cutter and even drew a foul on a pull-up jumper.
On the other hand, he had the most insane shot of his time in Los Angeles with a crossover step-back 3-pointer in the first half. If he’d been benched in that moment, I wouldn’t have even argued it.
Grade: C+
JJ Redick
The starting lineup issues sort of figured themselves out on their own. Obviously, introducing LeBron helps tremendously but selecting Christie felt like the smartest option.
Still, a lot of coaches don’t make the smart and easy pick. Some keep their hands in their pockets and bury Christie on the bench for the whole season. Theoretically.
Grade: B+
Sunday’s DNPs: Bronny James, Maxwell Lewis, Quincy Olivari
Sunday’s inactives: Jalen Hood-Schifino, Armel Traore, Christian Wood, Jaxson Hayes, Jarred Vanderbilt
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude.