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Grizzlies grind past the Lakers thanks to the Troy Daniels Show

By Jakob Eliason

Dec 3, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Troy Daniels (30) shoots between Los Angeles Lakers center Timofey Mozgov (20) and guard Jose Calderon (5) during the first half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Troy Daniels (30) shoots between Los Angeles Lakers center Timofey Mozgov (20) and guard Jose Calderon (5) during the first half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /
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In typical Grizzlies fashion, Memphis grinded out a 103-100 win against the Lakers Saturday night, thanks to a huge defensive stand in the fourth quarter.

If you could describe tonight’s game in one word, that word would be ‘young’.  The players-to-watch tonight included Andrew Harrison, Troy Daniels, Lou Williams and Brandon Ingram.  The already-young Lakers team meshed nicely with the injury-ridden Grizzlies.

Tonight, the Grindhouse was the Troy Daniels show.  The young shooting guard who has been struggling to find his rhythm this season definitely found it tonight.  He got hot early, scoring 5 points on his first two shots of the game. That play continued, enough for 23 points in the first half alone. Adding a few more clutch baskets in the second half, he finished the game with a career-high 31 points.

Coming off the other bench, Lou Williams took control of the Lakers’ offense.  Challenging Troy Daniels shot for shot throughout the whole game, Williams scored 40 points, 14 of them coming from the free-throw line.

In the second half, the Grizzlies came alive, powered by one-part JaMychal Green tip-slams and two-parts Grit ‘N’ Grind defense.  The pressure was too much, and the Grizzlies came out with a three point victory.

For the Grizzlies, a win over a good Lakers team is significant.  With injuries to Mike Conley and Chandler Parsons – key pieces to your playoff hopes – and Zach Randolphs personal absence, depleted is the first word that comes to mind.

Survive and Advance. As the Grizzlies slowly piece themselves back together, every win is significant.

With this win, the Grizzlies move to 13-8, which gives them sole ownership of fifth place in the conference, behind the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Breaking News

During the game, news broke on Twitter that the Grizzlies had been awarded the injury roster extension, allowing them to sign one extra player due to the large number of injuries that have recently plagued the grizzlies.

Related Story: Grizz to use injury exception on Toney Douglas

The news announced that Toney Douglas would be the newest member of the Grizzlies roster.  Although Coach David Fizdale didn’t say anything about it in the post-game presser, there seems reason to believe that Toney was already in Memphis tonight.

What’s next?

The young Memphis lineup is en route to a major test. While currently there are no ‘easy wins’ in a situation such as the Grizzlies’, the last team you’d want to face without your max-contract players is Golden State, who travels to Memphis next Saturday.  The Grizzlies head to New Orleans tomorrow, and will return home for a three game home-stand against the Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trailblazers and the Warriors on Saturday.

Grind mode: engaged. 

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