The Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Lakers are an even 6-6 in their regular season battles since the 2021-22021-22 season. A first-round series (won 4-2 by the Lakers) separates the evenness of their season series over the last three seasons
The Grizzlies took advantage of a Lakers team that has struggled on the road this season in their first matchup against each other last week. As they prepare for round two of their regular season battles, let's look at some memorable moments from the previous three seasons.
Lakers 122-121 Grizzlies (January 21, 2023)
This game was considered the starting point of the Grizzlies' downfall to end their 2022-23 season. The Grizzlies entered this matchup on a franchise-high 11-game winning streak against a struggling Lakers team that had lost three in a row and had a losing record.
Absolute madness. Shannon Sharpe was talking to Ja Morant, then Steven Adams walked over in front of Ja Morant. Tee Morant and Shannon Sharpe then had words before Sharpe was escalated off the floor. pic.twitter.com/iIpOnxDPiH
— Damichael Cole (@DamichaelC) January 21, 2023
Fireworks were provided during this game as NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe was sitting courtside when he got into an argument with Ja Morant that turned into Ja's father Tee Morant coming to his defense as the game went to halftime. What followed was the Grizzlies blowing a 13-point second-half lead, including a 7-point lead with 3:04 remaining to lose in the final seconds.
Beginning with that game, the Lakers finished that season 23-14 and won their play-in matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves to secure the seventh seed to play the Grizzlies in the playoffs. Including that game, the Grizzlies lost all of their five-game road trip and eight of their next nine games overall before season-ending injuries to Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke derailed their hopes of defeating the Lakers in their first-round matchup.
Lakers 117-111 Grizzlies (Overtime) (April 24,2023)
After the Lakers stole game one of their first-round playoff series in Memphis, the Grizzlies secured a game two victory behind a balanced effort without Ja Morant, who left game one in the 4th quarter with a wrist injury. The Lakers blitzed the Grizzlies to begin game three leading 35-9 at the end of the first quarter before holding off a late run by Ja Morant, who finished with 45 points, to take a 2-1 lead.
In the series-defining game four battle, the teams traded jabs after the Grizzlies erased a 15-point second quarter deficit to lead at the end of the third quarter. After a Jaren Jackson Jr. block led to a Desmond Bane layup to break a 102-102 tie to give the Grizzlies a 104-102 lead with 6.1 seconds remaining, LeBron James made a driving layup to take the game into overtime.
In overtime, the Grizzlies struggled to make shots (3-9) as the Lakers outlasted the Grizzlies to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. The Lakers ended the Grizzlies season two games later with a 40-point defeat in game six.
Grizzlies 127-113 Lakers (January 5, 2024)
This game marked the last time Ja Morant would play during the 2023-24 season. The Grizzlies were climbing out of a 6-19 hole and defeated the Lakers behind a 51% shooting effort from three to make their record 12-23.
Juicy J crashes the Grizzlies postgame interview 🏀 pic.twitter.com/xKIDHJUfpI
— Wave Check🌊 (@thewavecheckk) January 6, 2024
The Grizzlies got their best collective game out of the big four with Jaren Jackson Jr., Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Marcus Smart all scoring 21 plus points, led by Jaren Jackson Jr. with 31 points. Unfortunately, Ja Morant suffered a torn labrum in a workout the next day that was followed by injuries to Marcus Smart and Desmond Bane the next week that ended the Grizzlies' hopes of making a playoff run.