Memphis Grizzlies embarrassed as season ends in Game 6 vs. L.A. Lakers
LOS ANGELES — Everything that could go wrong went wrong for the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 6 against the Los Angeles Lakers.
The offense sputtered without a go-to option, key frontcourt players battled foul trouble and the Lakers had role players stepping up alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Memphis trailed by 17 points at halftime, and the game got worse — much worse — in the second half.
Memphis were pummeled 125-85 by the Lakers on Friday night, ending their season in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Ja Morant struggled to score with the Lakers packing the paint, and Desmond Bane, who guaranteed the Grizzlies would return home for a Game 7, couldn't generate open looks. Jaren Jackson Jr. also struggled offensively as Memphis failed to get in a rhythm.
Bane led all starters with 15 points.
Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell sliced his way through the paint and knocked down 3-pointers in his best game of the season. He finished with a team-high 31 points. Jarred Vanderbilt, whom Memphis opted to keep leaving open in the corner, made three 3-pointers. Davis scored 16 points and had 14 rebounds, and James finished with 22 points.
Here are some takeaways from the game.
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No Luke Kennard hurts depth
Memphis got bad news before the game when it learned Luke Kennard would be unavailable due to left shoulder soreness. No Kennard meant Memphis relied on Tyus Jones and John Konchar to play more minutes. Jones struggled to finish around the rim and never found his shot in the series. Kennard's presence had led to easier driving and shooting opportunities for teammates, but those weren't available on Friday night.
Offensive issues resurface
The Lakers did a good job of taking away everything Memphis wanted. They trapped Desmond Bane and stayed attached to him to limit his open looks. When Morant went to the scorer's table to check into the game in the second quarter, Lakers head coach Darvin Ham signaled for Davis to do the same. Having Davis on the court with Morant limited the Grizzlies point guard's effectiveness in the paint. Jackson also struggled offensively, and that left the Grizzlies with no one to turn to for most of the night. Bane, Jackson and Morant combined to shoot 11-for-44.
No answer for Anthony Davis
Davis dominated the games on both sides of the floor. His defensive presence hurt the Grizzlies in the paint, and Memphis had no answer on the glass. Xavier Tillman Sr. picked up his fourth foul in the second quarter and his fifth early in the third. Tillman had been a big defensive key to slowing down Davis.
What's next
The Grizzlies' 2022-23 season is over. Memphis will prepare for an offseason that could see more roster movement than recent years. Brooks is an unrestricted free agent, and Memphis will need to pick up a team option on Tillman. The rest of the roster is under contract for next season, but general manager and president of basketball operations Zach Kleiman said the Grizzlies were aggressive at the trade deadline. Expect that aggressiveness to carry over into an important offseason.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies embarrassed as season ends in Game 6 vs. L.A. Lakers
