Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant didn’t sound thrilled after Friday’s 117-112 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, and it wasn’t about his health. Per beat reporter Damichael Cole, Morant repeatedly deflected postgame questions to the coaching staff and said he felt fine physically.
The mood matched a night that started fast for Memphis but veered off course in the second half. On the floor, the numbers tell the story. ESPN’s box score shows the Grizzlies blitzed the second quarter 42-24 but then got outscored 62-43 after halftime as Luka Doncic took over.
Doncic returned from a three-game absence and put up an impressive 44 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists, swinging the game back to Los Angeles. Austin Reaves added 21 points, and the Lakers closed strong with a 28-21 fourth quarter.
Memphis had balance but lacked a closer. Jock Landale and Jaylen Wells led the team with 16 points apiece, while Jaren Jackson Jr. and Cedric Coward contributed double figures. The key issue was late-game execution. The Grizzlies’ shooting cooled, turnovers increased, and the Lakers capitalized on Doncic’s pace.
The AP recap echoed these points: Memphis built a 14-point halftime lead but let it slip as the Lakers tightened the screws in the second half.
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-news-ja-morants-unhappy-reaction-weird-game-vs-lakers
