Terrifying LeBron reality as Lakers send title warning, Grizzlies superstar suffers big injury blow

The second-seed Memphis Grizzlies will likely be sweating on the supply of Ja Morant after the famous person guard went down injured in a 128-112 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday.

The Grizzlies had been proper within the hunt with the Lakers heading into the ultimate 5 minutes of the groups’ opening playoffs recreation earlier than heading to the locker room with a hand harm.

Morant had gone as much as contest Anthony Davis and got here down onerous on his proper hand, later reappearing on the bench taped up because the Lakers stormed house for an enormous win.

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Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins stated post-game that Morant is “in some pain” however that the X-rays got here again unfavourable, with the 23-year-old to be evaluated over the subsequent two days.

Morant was already coping with an harm to the hand earlier than the newest incident on Monday.

Austin Reaves was the hero in his playoff debut, scoring 14 factors within the fourth quarter alone.

Reaves had 23 factors all as much as go along with three rebounds and 4 assists whereas Rui Hachimura additionally stepped up with 29 factors, capturing 11 for 14 from the sphere and 5 3-pointers.

D’Angelo Russell, in the meantime, shook off a shaky capturing begin to end the sport with 19 factors whereas famous person duo LeBron James and Anthony Davis mixed for 43 factors.

It is the sort of high-level manufacturing the Lakers have been after from their supporting solid, easing the stress on James who was as an alternative additionally in a position to make an impression on the defensive finish.

Jaren Jackson Jr. led the way in which for the Grizzlies with 31 factors, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, two blocks and one steal whereas Morant had 22 factors, 5 rebounds and 6 assists earlier than his harm.

The Lakers made a quick begin, leaping out to a 32-27 lead after the opening quarter off the again of a bodily displaying from Davis (eight factors, 5 rebounds, three blocks).

That sort of manufacturing from the 30-year-old was significantly vital as James and Russell struggled to get their shot going within the opening interval.

James had an early defensive rebound and steal to set the tone for the Lakers however missed his opening three pictures of the sport and ended the quarter 1-for-4 from the sphere.

Russell, in the meantime, was simply 1-for-5 because the Lakers shot at simply 43.3 per cent from the sphere. So how precisely did they nonetheless discover themselves up after the primary quarter?

Well, Davis’ work on the offensive glass had rather a lot to do with it however so did an absence of turnovers, with the extra skilled Lakers enjoying good basketball and never giving the ball up as soon as within the interval.

The Grizzlies, then again, coughed it up 4 occasions and will’ve been watching a good larger deficit after the primary quarter, having fallen behind 30-20 with two on the clock.

But seven factors within the house of fifty seconds noticed the Grizzlies draw inside three factors, settling for a 32-27 buffer in the long run.

Things began to move downhill for the Lakers within the second quarter although, with the turnovers shortly piling up earlier than Davis got here from the ground with a possible shoulder harm.

Davis left for the locker room after colliding with Grizzlies ahead Jaren Jackson Jr., showing to say, “I can’t feel my arm”, as he exited the sport.

It was shaping as a pricey blow for the Lakers, who had been counting on a wholesome Davis to assist ease the offensive load on James and the 30-year-old was doing simply that early on Monday.

Fortunately for the Lakers Davis was in a position to return however not earlier than Memphis stormed house within the second quarter to take a 65-59 lead into halftime.

Jackson Jr. was an enormous motive for that, racking up two defensive rebounds, one ferocious block and 7 factors within the last two minutes alone.

Morant then put an exclamation interval on the quarter for Memphis because the 23-year-old nailed a floater.

Jackson Jr. had 19 factors, 5 rebounds and two blocks by halftime, seemingly leaving the Lakers in huge hassle if Davis couldn’t get again on the courtroom.

Fortunately for the Lakers, Davis was in a position to return with sources describing it as a “nerve stinger” to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Davis instantly made his presence felt too with a pair of defensive rebounds to go along with a bucket and an help whereas Russell beginning to discover his capturing rhythm because the Lakers drew nearer to the lead.

The Grizzlies wanted somebody to step up and Desmond Bane did simply that, scoring eight factors within the house of 40 seconds as Memphis pushed its lead again out to 75-68.

A couple of essential Rui Hachimura 3-pointers down the stretch although noticed the Lakers shut in as soon as extra and ultimately regain the lead, up 96-90 on the finish of the third.

The recreation was nicely and actually within the stability deep within the last quarter till a brutal harm blow as Morant appeared to undergo a hand harm with simply over 5 minutes left on the clock.

Jackson Jr. did his greatest to maintain the Grizzlies afloat, scoring eight factors within the house of two minutes nevertheless it was all futile in the long run as Hachimura, Davis and Reaves stepped up late to shut out the win for the Lakers.

With it, the Lakers now maintain a 1-0 lead however will stay in Memphis for Game 2 on Thursday as an harm cloud hangs over Morant.