The Los Angeles Lakers gained a 3-1 series lead over the Memphis Grizzlies with a 117-111 overtime victory on Monday, and they proved their grit and mettle in doing so.
Even though it was an ugly, low-scoring game, they came through with more hustle plays, and they also maintained their composure despite falling behind by seven midway through the fourth quarter after they had been up by 15 in the second period.
Memphis, meanwhile, hasn’t shown much composure in this series thus far.
It started with Dillon Brooks’ flagrant 2 foul on LeBron James early in the second half of Game 3 that led to his ejection, and it continued in Game 4 as several members of the team committed very hard fouls on Lakers players.
After the last two contests, Brooks refused to speak to the media, and Ja Morant also skipped media availability following Game 4.
Perhaps that’s why Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins made the following comments, even before Game 4 (h/t Lakers Daily).
Via The Athletic:
“We’re far from where we need to be from a maturity standpoint,” Jenkins said. “This is all experience that you can only gain from. So, nothing’s gonna change overnight, but when we wear it, and we understand the struggles we’re going through individually, collectively, on, off the court and all that stuff, and we sit down and we honestly talk about it, and we face it, you’re hopefully gonna turn the corner for sure.”
Several weeks ago, Morant had perhaps the team’s biggest indiscretion this season when he was seen during an Instagram Live gleefully toting a gun at a Colorado nightclub. It caused many to question his maturity, as well as the company he keeps.
The Grizzlies will have an opportunity to keep their season alive in Game 3 in Memphis on Wednesday. However, if L.A. remains focused, intense and composed, Morant, Brooks and company may end up making plans to vacation in Cancun shortly after Wednesday’s contest.
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