The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to build on their momentum heading into Memphis, where they will play the Grizzlies on Wednesday night in the second game of a six-game road trip. Current NBA lines have them a 7.5 favorite playing on the road.
Los Angeles kicked things off yesterday in Milwaukee against the Bucks, which featured an epic 19-point fourth-quarter comeback. The purple and gold survived a double overtime thriller without LeBron James in the lineup, which bodes well for the confidence level for the rest of the trip.
With the Lakers currently 2.5 games ahead of the Golden State Warriors and trailing the Phoenix Suns by two games with ten games remaining in the season, they find themselves in a promising position. Occupying the 9th spot in the Western Conference, they are well-placed for a play-in tournament berth. Yet, they also harbor realistic ambitions of securing a top 6 finish, defying the NBA odds that peg them as underdogs. Positioned just below the Suns and having overtaken other vital rivals, the Lakers are primed for a crucial end-of-season surge.
While Tuesday’s win was needed, it came at the sacrifice of Anthony Davis playing 52 minutes, the most since Kobe Bryant in 2012, and battling a knee injury he sustained in the fourth quarter. Regardless, Davis put up an absurd stat line of 34 points, 23 rebounds, two steals and four blocks.
With that being the case, though, Davis has been ruled out of the game against the Grizzlies with the designation of a left knee hyperextension. Meanwhile, his co-star, James, is returning to the lineup after getting the night off against the Bucks due to his own ankle issue.
A lot has changed for the Grizzlies since the last matchup back on Jan. 5, when Memphis won stunningly, 127-113. Rising stars Ja Morant, Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, Derrick Rose, John Konchar, Vince Williams Jr., Yuta Watanabe, and Ziare Williams are all out.
Currently standing with a 24-48 record, injuries have derailed the Grizzlies’ season after being the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference last year. However, there is still some firepower with Desmond Bane recently returning from an extended absence and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. available. Additionally, Brandon Clarke is making his season debut after a year-long Achilles injury recovery.
The Lakers’ utmost importance heading into Wednesday’s matchup is containing Bane and Jackson from the tip. At this point of the season, the Grizzlies are playing with house money and coming in more rested than the Lakers, so if they can gain some confidence early, it could be a long night for L.A.
Los Angeles Lakers (40-32) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (24-48)
Wednesday, March 27, 2024, 5:00 p.m. PT
FedEx Forum, Memphis, Tennessee
TV: Spectrum SportsNet
Radio: 710 AM ESPN LA
Projected Lakers Starting Lineup:
PG: D’Angelo Russell
SG: Austin Reaves
SF: LeBron James
PF: Rui Hachimura
C: Jaxson Hayes
Key Reserves: Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish, Spencer Dinwiddie, Max Christie
Projected Grizzlies Starting Lineup:
PG: Scotty Pippen Jr.
SG: Desmond Bane
SF: GG Jackson
PF: Santi Aldama
C: Jaren Jackson Jr.
Key Reserves: Brandon Clarke, Lamar Stevens, Jake LaRavia, Dejon Jarreau, Trey Jemison
