Luka Doncic and LeBron James help Lakers beat

They met two days prior to Sunday evening’s encounter at Crypto.com Arena, a two-game set between the Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies reminiscent of a playoff sequence.

The Lakers gained the first sport Friday evening right here and knew the Grizzlies have been going to carry more depth and a stronger effort even with star guard Ja Morant (proper calf contusion) not taking part in.

And that was the case, the Lakers falling behind by 16 factors in the second quarter, the Grizzlies ramping it up in a big approach. But with Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Jake LaRavia main the best way, the Lakers pulled out a 120-114 win and improved to 12-0 in clutch video games.

“They played exceptional basketball in the first half when we knew we were going to get their best shot, especially after the playoff-type of format,” said LeBron James, who had 26 factors, 10 assists to go along with seven rebounds. “The team always make the adjustments coming to the next game, better prepared. So, I think it’s just in the second half, we started to crack the code a little bit. Was able to get the lead down in the third. They kind of broke away a little bit again, but we just kept at it out there and was able to have a great fourth quarter.”

Doncic nearly had a triple-double with 36 factors, 9 rebounds and eight assists. LaRavia, beginning in the absence of Rui Hachimura, had 26 factors, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. It was the second straight time LaRavia, who got here in averaging 9.1 factors, scored 20-plus. HIs protection also was on level again, another signal of LaRavia’s development and a function he has been ready to fill for the Lakers.

“I just feel like I’m a player where when you tell me the things that you want me to do I’m going to just go out there and do them,” said LaRavia, who was nine-for-16 from the sphere and four-for-10 from three-point vary. “I’ve had plenty of conversations with (Lakers coach) JJ (Redick), with (Lakers assistant) coach Beau (Levesque) and they tell me what they want me to do out there and I kind of just go out there and I try my best to do that every game. Shots aren’t going to fall every game, but I can control the effort that I bring to a game, crashing every time. I know they talk about offensive crash-rate. I’m just trying to do that every night and just bringing energy to this team.”

Back-and-forth the sport went in the fourth quarter,, with the Lakers and Grizzlies taking turns delivering in tense moments. The Lakers finally took the lead for good at 100-99 on a basket by Doncic.

Then James scored on a three-point play and made one of two free throws for a 104-99 lead with 3 minutes 49 seconds left.

The Lakers (22-11) had an reply for every Grizzlies counter, the ultimate stamp on the sport being Doncic’s back-to-back three-pointers for a nine-point lead with 2:01 left.

So, the Lakers handed the take a look at the NBA put in entrance of them by scheduling a sport against the Grizzlies right here Friday evening and then at home again on Sunday evening.

“I like it,” Redick said. “I do think it does replicate [the playoffs] in some ways. A playoff series, particularly when it’s not a home-and-away situation, but more of you’re playing a two-game series on somebody’s home court for the day in between. Had a few of these last year. So, I like this for our team and it’s a good growth opportunity. Coming off a win, knowing that there’s a lot of stuff that we can be better at and where can we make improvements. That’s the big challenge to me.”

For Redick, that meant what it always does for the Lakers — enhancing on protection.

They held the Grizzlies to 42% capturing and 24.4% from three-point vary.

The Lakers also needed to jump-start middle Deandre Ayton from a five-game slumber.

Ayton had just 4 factors on two-for-four capturing against the Grizzlies on Friday evening and hadn’t scored more than 12 factors in that span.

So, the Lakers went to Ayton at the outset, making an attempt to ignite his sport. It labored to a degree, Ayton scoring 15 factors, grabbing eight rebounds and blocking three pictures.

“I trust my teammates so well and they are generational players so I really try not to clog their brain up with just me or try to focus on me,” said Ayton, who was six-for-eight from the sphere. “It’s more like me wanting to crash the boards early and get going. But I just appreciate them finding me in spots where I got the advantage and that’s all I can really worry about. It’s really me not getting frustrated. It’s more like this where I dominate. I don’t really care about a play for me or touches. It’s the rhythm of the basketball game that keeps me in the flow and keeps me going.”