Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick addressed his team’s struggles following their 131-114 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.
“It’s no secret that [the Grizzlies] are going to push the pace. We’ve got to get back, we are getting matched up in transition,” Redick said. “I believe in that first half they had nine points after makes where we either jogged back, didn’t get matched up, or stabbed at the ball twice… We didn’t have good attention to details.”
The Lakers, missing star center Anthony Davis due to left heel soreness, were unable to stop Memphis’ fast-paced offense. The Grizzlies capitalized on the Lakers’ defensive lapses, scoring 60 points in the paint. Memphis’ perimeter shooting was also on point, with the team finishing 48% from beyond the arc, proving a key factor in the victory.
Redick acknowledged the team’s shooting struggles, with the Lakers going 41-for-93 from the field and 15-for-48 from three. “We generated good shots,” he said. “There were a couple tough ones, whether you want to call them ill-advised… We got good looks, especially in the first half.”
Despite the team’s shooting issues, LeBron James provided a dominant performance. The 39-year-old scored 39 points, leading the Lakers in the absence of Davis and Rui Hachimura. Redick praised James’ effort, saying, “He played the hardest on our team. Almost 40 years old and played the hardest. It says a lot about him.”
While James kept the Lakers competitive, Memphis answered with balanced scoring. Ja Morant, despite exiting in the third quarter with a hamstring injury, led the Grizzlies with 20 points. Jaren Jackson Jr. and rookie Jaylen Wells each added 20, exploiting the Lakers’ vulnerabilities inside.
The Grizzlies took control in the third quarter, with backup center Jay Huff contributing a flurry of three-pointers and an offensive rebound that led to a reverse dunk. This sequence pushed Memphis’ lead to 85-71, and the Lakers struggled to recover.
The absence of Davis left the Lakers exposed defensively, particularly in the paint, and they failed to match Memphis’ intensity on both ends of the floor. Austin Reaves added 19 points, but the Lakers’ shooting woes continued, with D’Angelo Russell finishing just 2-for-9 from three.
Despite the absence of head coach Taylor Jenkins, who was sidelined due to a family bereavement, Memphis held firm. Assistant coach Tuomas Iisalo led the team to a well-rounded victory, with the Grizzlies finishing with 28 assists and solid defense.
The loss drops the Lakers to 4-4, highlighting their dependence on a fully healthy roster to compete in the Western Conference.
