The Los Angeles Lakers delivered another thrilling comeback on Sunday night at Crypto.com Arena, rallying from a daunting 16-point deficit to defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 120-114 in a contest that felt every bit like a playoff showdown. The victory marked the Lakers' second home win over Memphis in three days, capping a two-game set that tested the team's resilience and ability to perform under pressure.
It was a night defined by star power and clutch execution. Luka Doncic led the charge for Los Angeles, nearly notching a triple-double with 36 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. LeBron James, ever the steadying force, contributed 26 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds, orchestrating the Lakers' offense with his trademark poise. Jake LaRavia, starting in place of the injured Rui Hachimura, continued his breakout stretch by pouring in 26 points, grabbing five boards, and dishing four assists against his former team.
"They played exceptional basketball in the first half when we knew we were going to get their best shot, especially after the playoff-type of format," LeBron James said, reflecting on the Grizzlies' intensity. "The team always make the adjustments coming to the next game, better prepared. So, I think it's just in the second half, we started to crack the code a little bit. Was able to get the lead down in the third. They kind of broke away a little bit again, but we just kept at it out there and was able to have a great fourth quarter."
The Lakers, now 22-11, improved their perfect record in clutch games to 12-0—an impressive feat that underscores their ability to thrive in high-pressure situations. Sunday's win was just the second time since early December that Los Angeles has strung together consecutive victories, a welcome change after dropping four of their previous five contests.
The Grizzlies, meanwhile, continued to struggle without their star guard Ja Morant, who missed his 15th game in the last 21 due to a calf injury. Memphis fell to 15-20 on the season and has now lost four straight, despite spirited performances from Jaylen Wells (23 points), rookie Cedric Coward (16 points, nine rebounds in the first half), Jaren Jackson Jr. (14 points), and Jock Landale (13 points, 10 rebounds).
Memphis came out firing, building a 16-point lead in the second quarter and holding a 65-54 advantage at halftime. The Lakers looked flat early, trailing 34-26 after the first period and struggling to contain the Grizzlies on the glass. Memphis snagged 10 offensive rebounds in the opening half, fueling second-chance opportunities and keeping Los Angeles on its heels.
But as has become their calling card, the Lakers refused to fold. They closed the third quarter on an 8-2 run, trimming an 11-point deficit to just four points at 87-83. The fourth quarter saw the momentum shift entirely. LaRavia tied the game at 92-92 with a driving layup and immediately followed with another bucket to give the Lakers their first lead since the opening frame. The teams traded blows, but Doncic's pullup jumper at the 5:12 mark put Los Angeles ahead 100-99—a lead they would not relinquish.
Doncic then delivered the knockout punch, drilling consecutive three-pointers to extend the Lakers' lead to 112-103 with just over two minutes remaining. The Crypto.com Arena crowd erupted as the Lakers seized control, their stars shining brightest when it mattered most.
LaRavia's performance was especially notable. The forward, who came in averaging just 9.1 points per game, has now scored 20-plus in consecutive outings. "I just feel like I’m a player where when you tell me the things that you want me to do I’m going to just go out there and do them," LaRavia said. "I’ve had plenty of conversations with [Lakers coach] JJ [Redick], with [Lakers assistant] coach Beau [Levesque] and they tell me what they want me to do out there and I kind of just go out there and I try my best to do that every game. Shots aren’t going to fall every game, but I can control the effort that I bring to a game, crashing every time. I know they talk about offensive crash-rate. I’m just trying to do that every night and just bringing energy to this team."
Coach JJ Redick praised LaRavia's growth and the team's ability to adapt in a playoff-like setting. "I like it," Redick said of the two-game series format. "I do think it does replicate [the playoffs] in some ways. A playoff series, particularly when it's not a home-and-away situation, but more of you're playing a two-game series on somebody's home court for the day in-between. Had a few of these last year. So, I like this for our team and it's a good growth opportunity. Coming off a win, knowing that there's a lot of stuff that we can be better at and where can we make improvements. That's the big challenge to me."
Deandre Ayton, who had struggled offensively in recent games, responded with 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting, eight rebounds, and three blocked shots. His presence in the paint was a pivotal factor, especially in the second half. "Bigs can’t feed themselves," Ayton said. "I just try my best to do what I can to bring effort, and I trust my playmakers out there to find me." James echoed the importance of keeping Ayton involved: "I’m always looking for D.A. And we’re always trying to figure out a way we can get him the ball. It’s unfortunate how what happened last game, and we weren’t able to find him as much as we want to, but we was able to make the adjustments. We [saw] how they were playing the pick and rolls. We [were] able to find him in the spots, and he made the most of it. But big time player for us, and we needed that punch from him."
The Lakers' win came despite missing key contributors Rui Hachimura (third straight game, calf injury) and Austin Reaves (fourth straight, calf injury). Jarred Vanderbilt provided a lift off the bench with seven points, seven rebounds, and three assists, while the team as a whole tightened up defensively, limiting Memphis to 42% shooting from the field and a frigid 24.4% from beyond the arc.
For Memphis, the loss stings all the more given their strong start and the absence of key players. Rookie Cedric Coward, who impressed with 16 points and nine rebounds in the first half, was sidelined after halftime due to an ankle injury. The Grizzlies' depth was tested, and despite a valiant effort, they couldn't withstand the Lakers' late surge.
Looking ahead, the Lakers will travel to face the New Orleans Pelicans on January 6, while the Grizzlies return home to host the San Antonio Spurs on the same night. With their confidence restored and clutch credentials reaffirmed, the Lakers appear poised to keep climbing the Western Conference standings. Their latest victory, hard-fought and dramatic, serves as a testament to a team that refuses to back down when the lights shine brightest.
