On December 30, the NBA regular season ended a focus battle, and the Lakers lost back-to-back to the Grizzlies 99-104. The Lakers were in the lead for most of the first three quarters, and the Grizzlies wiped out the point difference under Morant in the last quarter, while achieving a rebound, although there were also good performances in James and Westbrook, James's fatal mistake was robbed, and the Grizzlies who played at home still managed to win.
Statistics:
Lakers: Munch 15 points, James 37 points, 13 boards and 7 assists, Howard 6 points, Bradley 7 points, Westbrook 16 points, 10 boards and 12 assists, Anthony 5 points, S-Johnson 7 points, Tucker 4 points;
Grizzlies: Anderson 8 points, Jalen Jackson 15 points, 4 boards, Adams 4 points and 6 boards, Bain 18 points and 4 boards, Morant 41 points, 10 boards and 2 assists, Tillman 6 points;
Focus Lens:
Westbrook has both triple-doubles for the eighth time this season and 192nd in his career.
James scored 30+ for the 14th time this season, 30+ in 6 consecutive games, the league first;
Contest Review:
In the first quarter, Morant assisted Adams to score the first goal, James hit a three-pointer, Munch played 2+1, and Morant scored three points in color. Howard hit both free throws, With Bain jumping in after Bradley hit a three-pointer and Anderson threw in. James hit another three-pointer, and Bane and James scored consecutive points. Bradley's jumper was steady, James hit a three-pointer, and the Lakers' advantage widened to double digits. Bradley and Tucker scored four straight points, Bane stopped the bleeding, Morant made up for it, Morant made a throw and Tillman hit both free throws. Westbrook hit the board and Bane hit both free throws. Westbrook hit a three-pointer, Tyes Jones pressed the whistle to score, and the first quarter ended, the Lakers 30-23 Grizzlies.
In the second quarter, S-Johnson scored on a jumper, Munch flew in, and Jaren Jackson and Buchanan narrowed the gap in a row. Anthony hit a three-pointer and James assisted Tucker on a layup. Anderson hit two free throws, Jaren Jackson received the ball dunk under the basket, and Anderson made a layup to stop the Lakers. Collison scored on a layup, Jaren Jackson scored 2-1, and then he hit both free throws. Westbrook hit a three-pointer, James made a layup, and Westbrook and James scored consecutive points, and the point difference was widened. Tillman hit both free throws, S-Johnson threw a shot to score, Anthony jumpers and Morant's pick-and-roll came. Morant hit a three-pointer, then he dunked, and the first half of the game ended, the Lakers 54-48 Grizzlies.
In the third quarter, James scored 4 consecutive points on a jumper, Morant scored 5 points on layups and three-pointers, James hit a three-pointer, Morant hit two free throws, and the two frantically rose points. Jaren Jackson hit one of two free throws, Munch hit a three-pointer, Westbrook assisted howard on a dunk, and Bane hit a three-pointer. James hit a 24-second whistle-blower, Howard let go of the basket, Jaren Jackson scored an empty three-pointer, Adams made a successful layup, and James stopped the Grizzlies with a three-pointer. James assisted Munch to win, Morant hit two free throws, and Tillman and S-Johnson scored against each other. Crick scored on a layup, Jaren Jackson scored 2+1, Morant hit a whistle-pressed three-pointer, and the third quarter ended, and the Lakers 83-78 Grizzlies.
In the fourth quarter, Clark scored on a jumper and Bane's three-pointer equalized the Grizzlies 85-85. Westbrook went to the basket to stop the bleeding, James hit a three-pointer, Bane and Westbrook cut points, Bane hit another three-pointer, and Westbrook made a layup. Tyes Jones and Morant scored consecutive points as the Grizzlies pulled back. Morant hit consecutive three-pointers, James scored a layup, Morant hit one of two free throws, James hit a three-pointer, Morant made a basket, James' fatal mistake was robbed, and the Grizzlies maintained the lead and successfully reversed to win.
Two teams starting lineup:
Lakers: Westbrook, Bradley, Munch, James, Howard;
Grizzlies: Morant, Bain, Anderson, Jalen Jackson, Adams;