LOS ANGELES — In a game that felt more like a late-April playoff battle than an early-January regular-season matchup, the Los Angeles Lakers narrowly defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 113–110 on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. The victory allowed the Lakers (21–11) to snap a recent skid, while the Grizzlies (15–19) suffered their third consecutive heartbreak despite a Herculean effort from superstar point guard Ja Morant.
The contest served as a clash of eras and styles, featuring the timeless brilliance of LeBron James, the precision of Luka Doncic—who has become the engine of this Lakers offense—and the electric, gravity-defying play of Ja Morant. In the end, it was the Lakers’ depth and veteran poise in the final two minutes that secured the win in front of a sold-out Hollywood crowd.
The Return of the King and the Doncic Factor
Coming into the night, much of the talk centered on the Lakers’ lineup changes. Having lost the first meeting of the season to Memphis back in October, Los Angeles was determined to protect their home court. The biggest difference-maker was the presence of LeBron James, who missed the previous matchup with an injury.
James, now 41, showed early on that he still has plenty of “California Dreamin'” left in the tank. He finished the night with a robust stat line of 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, often acting as the stabilizing force when the Grizzlies’ youthful speed threatened to overwhelm the Lakers.
However, it was Luka Doncic who truly controlled the tempo for Los Angeles. After torching the Grizzlies for 44 points in their first meeting, Doncic was once again the focal point of the Memphis defensive game plan. Even with the Grizzlies throwing multiple looks at him, Doncic finished with a near triple-double: 31 points, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds. His ability to manipulate the Memphis defense created wide-open looks for Jake LaRavia and Deandre Ayton, the latter of whom dominated the paint with 16 points and 14 rebounds.
Ja Morant’s Scoring Tear Continues
For the Grizzlies, the story continues to be the incredible individual form of Ja Morant. Fresh off a 40-point performance against Philadelphia earlier in the week, Morant was once again the best player on the floor for long stretches.
Morant attacked the rim with reckless abandon, finishing with 38 points and 10 assists. His highlight reel from the night included a baseline 360 layup that left the Crypto.com Arena crowd gasping and a thunderous transition dunk over Deandre Ayton in the third quarter that briefly gave Memphis a 5-point lead.
“Ja is playing at an MVP level right now,” Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Iisalo said after the game. “The efficiency is there, the leadership is there. We just have to find a way to close these games out as a unit. We’re right there, but ‘right there’ doesn’t show up in the win column.”
Supporting Morant was rookie standout Cedric Coward, who followed up his career-high 28-point game against the 76ers with another solid outing, contributing 19 points and 9 boards. Jaren Jackson Jr. added 17 points and 4 blocks, providing the interior defense necessary to keep the game close until the final buzzer.
Injury Woes and Defensive Challenges
The Grizzlies entered the game shorthanded, a trend that has plagued their 2025-26 campaign. Both Jaylen Wells and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope were late scratches due to hamstring soreness, leaving the Grizzlies thin on the perimeter. This lack of depth was evident in the fourth quarter when the Lakers’ second unit, led by Marcus Smart, was able to sustain a run while Morant caught a brief rest.
The Lakers were not without their own issues, missing Austin Reaves (calf) and Rui Hachimura (calf). Without Reaves’ secondary playmaking, the burden on Doncic and James was immense, but the duo proved more than capable of carrying the load.
Turning Point: The Final Two Minutes
With 2:15 remaining in the fourth quarter, the game was knotted at 106–106. A Ja Morant floater put Memphis up by two, but LeBron James answered immediately with a triple from the wing—his fourth of the night—to put the Lakers ahead for good.
Following a missed jumper by Jaren Jackson Jr., Luka Doncic drew a double team and found a cutting Jake LaRavia for an easy layup to extend the lead to three. The Grizzlies had one final chance to tie the game with 4.2 seconds left, but a heavily contested three-point attempt from Marcus Smart (who was facing his former team) clanked off the front iron as time expired.
Highlights: Morant vs. James
The game featured several “viral” moments that will likely dominate NBA social media for the next 48 hours:
- The Block: Late in the second quarter, LeBron James tracked down Ja Morant on a fast break for a signature “chase-down block,” reminding the world of his defensive longevity.
- The Response: Minutes later, Morant crossed over Doncic and hit a step-back three right in LeBron’s face, nodding to the Lakers bench.
- The Connection: A full-court outlet pass from James to a streaking Doncic for a no-look alley-oop to Ayton showcased the growing chemistry between the Lakers’ two superstars.
Looking Ahead
The Grizzlies won’t have to wait long for a chance at revenge. The two teams are set for a “baseball-style” set, meeting again at Crypto.com Arena this Sunday. For Memphis, the priority will be getting Wells or Caldwell-Pope back on the floor to provide much-needed perimeter defense against Doncic.
For the Lakers, the win is a building block. Coach JJ Redick noted in the post-game press conference that while the team is still searching for its definitive identity, the “Doncic-LeBron-Ayton” core is starting to find a rhythm that can compete with anyone in the Western Conference.
