The Los Angeles Lakers are in the midst of a tough first-round playoff series with the Memphis Grizzlies. Despite winning Game 3 and taking a 2-1 series lead, they suffered a setback in Game 4 with news that three key players had been downgraded on the injury report (Sports Illustrated). Nonetheless, the Lakers were still able to squeeze out a victory against the Grizzlies, with LeBron James leading the team to a win (CBS Sports).
Following the win, James received an unexpected welcome back in the Lakers locker room. The superstar was greeted with goat noises from his teammates after another dominant performance (CBS Sports). James has been prioritizing taking care of his body amidst the grueling playoff schedule, which sees games being played every other day (Lakers Nation). His leadership and consistency on the court have been critical for the Lakers as they try to advance past the first round.
Meanwhile, Lakers newcomer Austin Reaves has been living out his dream by playing in his first postseason, even receiving “MVP” chants from fans (Lakers Nation). The Lakers knew they had an opportunity to take control of the series in Game 4, but it was a fourth-quarter surge from the Grizzlies’ D’Angelo Russell that caught the Lakers off guard (Lakers Nation). Despite his strong play, Russell’s teammate Dillon Brooks declined to speak to the media after the game, along with star Ja Morant (Lakers Nation).
As the series shifts back to Los Angeles for Game 5, the Lakers will need to stay focused and rely on their stars to pull through. With Anthony Davis also reflecting on the energy of the home crowd in Game 3, the Lakers will no doubt be motivated to advance (CBS Sports). Fans can tune in to watch the next game on Tuesday via live stream or TV (CBS Sports).
