Memphis Grizzlies vs Los Angeles Lakers Match Player Stats On Dec 27, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Dec 28, 2017

LOS ANGELES -- A 32-point performance from guard Tyreke Evans helped the Grizzlies capitalize on a sluggish Los Angeles Lakers offensive performance in Memphis' 109-99 win Wednesday at Staples Center.

Memphis (11-24) led much of the way but never by more than nine points until a 15-5 run in the fourth quarter pushed the advantage to double digits. The Grizzlies then held off the Lakers down the stretch, with Los Angeles failing to cut the deficit below six points near the end.

The Grizzlies had five players score in double figures. Forward Jarell Martin had 20 points, guard Andrew Harrison recorded 15 points, center Deyonta Davis scored 14 points, and center Marc Gasol finished with 11 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three blocked shots.

With a shoulder injury sidelining rookie point guard Lonzo Ball, the Los Angeles offense stagnated and appeared out of sorts for long stretches in the first half. The Lakers opened shooting just 1 of 10 from the floor and 5 of 20 for the first quarter.

Ball's absence became most evident in the Lakers (11-22) combining for just five assists through the first 21 minutes. Ball's 7.1 assists per game lead a team output of 23.2, eighth best in the NBA, but Los Angeles managed just 14 assists on Wednesday.

Poor ball movement kept Los Angeles from getting cleans looks, and the result was a night of 37.6 percent shooting from the floor and 28.6 percent from behind the 3-point line.

The Lakers' scoring woes carried over to the free-throw line. Los Angeles came into Wednesday's game ranked dead last in the NBA at 69.2 percent shooting from the stripe, then made just 21 of 33 (63.6 percent) against Memphis.

Forward Brandon Ingram, who led the Lakers with 23 points, shot just 5 of 11 from the foul line. Guard Jordan Clarkson connected on 5 of 9 3-point attempts en route to 22 points for Los Angeles.

Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma's run of consecutive games scoring in double figures ended at 11. He went to the locker room with 5:57 remaining after coming down awkwardly defending a Memphis shot. Kuzma returned shortly thereafter, but he made little impact, finishing with nine points on 4-of-24 shooting.

Forward Larry Nance Jr. led the Lakers' reserves with 12. Nance matched Gasol and Los Angeles center Andrew Bogut with a game-high nine rebounds.

NOTES: Lakers F Kyle Kuzma's 4-of-24 shooting from the floor and 1-of-11 from behind the 3-point arc were both season worsts. ... The Lakers outrebounded the Grizzlies 49-37 and scored 23 second-chance points to Memphis' 12. ... The Grizzlies enjoyed an 18-10 edge in points off turnovers. Memphis committed 11 turnovers to the Lakers' 12.