Western Conference playoff hopes were on the line Friday night as the Los Angeles Lakers hosted the Memphis Grizzlies at Crypto.com Arena in one of the most anticipated NBA matchups of the new year. Both teams entered the January 2, 2026, contest desperate to reverse recent slumps—each squad had lost four of its last six games—and with injuries depleting their rotations, the stakes felt even higher under the bright lights in Los Angeles.
The Lakers, coming off a tough blowout loss to the Detroit Pistons, were looking to capitalize on home court advantage and regain momentum in the standings. With a 20–11 record before tipoff, Los Angeles sat fifth in the Western Conference, but their recent form had fans and analysts alike questioning their playoff credentials. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies, 15–18 and clinging to ninth in the West, were reeling from an overtime defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers and hoping to avoid a third straight loss.
Adding fuel to the fire, the Lakers were without key contributors Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura, both sidelined with calf injuries, leaving even more of the offensive burden on the shoulders of superstars Luka Doncic and LeBron James. The Grizzlies, too, were battling depth issues, with Ty Jerome, John Konchar, Brandon Clarke, Zach Edey, and Vince Williams all out, while Jaylen Wells and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope were questionable but ultimately suited up for the game.
From the opening tip at 10:30 p.m. ET, the energy inside Crypto.com Arena was palpable. The Lakers, eager to set the tone, jumped out to a fast start, building a 15-point lead in the second quarter thanks to scorching-hot shooting—at one point, Los Angeles was converting at a dazzling 70.4% from the field. But Memphis wasn’t about to roll over. Led by the relentless Ja Morant and sharpshooter Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the Grizzlies stormed back with a stunning 18-0 run, erasing the deficit and making the Lakers sweat as halftime approached.
Despite Memphis’s surge, the Lakers managed to steady themselves and took a six-point lead into the break. The story of the first half was clear: while the Grizzlies’ bench outscored the Lakers’ reserves 37-13, Los Angeles’s starting five—anchored by Doncic and James—proved too much for Memphis’s starters to handle. Caldwell-Pope, who had been listed as questionable before the game, erupted for 12 of his 18 points in the third quarter, keeping Memphis within striking distance and igniting hope for an upset.
But the Lakers’ dynamic duo refused to let the game slip away. Luka Doncic, the NBA’s leading scorer at 33.5 points per game entering the night, delivered another masterclass, pouring in 34 points to lead all scorers. He was everywhere—driving to the rim, hitting step-back threes, and orchestrating the offense with his trademark flair. LeBron James, who had averaged 21.6 points, 5.9 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game in December and had been showing signs of slowing down, turned back the clock with a vintage performance, adding 31 points of his own. The pair combined for 65 points, leaving the Grizzlies scrambling for answers.
Memphis, though, showed plenty of fight. Jaren Jackson Jr. stepped up with 25 points, leading the Grizzlies’ scoring effort and providing much-needed versatility on both ends of the floor. Ja Morant, the heartbeat of the team, notched his sixth double-double of the season, finishing with 16 points and an impressive 11 assists. The Grizzlies’ bench continued to shine, but ultimately, the Lakers’ star power proved decisive down the stretch.
“We battled all night, but the Lakers just kept hitting big shots,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said after the game, echoing the frustration of a team that had repeatedly clawed its way back only to fall short. “Our bench gave us a huge lift, and Ja [Morant] was outstanding, but we need more consistent production from our starters if we’re going to win games like this.”
For the Lakers, the victory was a much-needed boost. Head coach JJ Redick, who has been visibly frustrated by LA’s defensive struggles—the team entered the game with the NBA’s 25th-ranked defensive rating and was allowing opponents to shoot a league second-worst 38.3% from beyond the arc—praised his team’s resilience. “We’ve got a lot to clean up defensively, but our guys showed heart tonight. Luka and LeBron led the way, and that’s what we need from our leaders,” Redick remarked postgame.
Cam Spencer, the Grizzlies’ second-year guard, entered the contest averaging three made three-pointers per game in December and had torched the Clippers for seven triples earlier in the month. Against the Lakers, he continued to show why he’s become a key weapon for Memphis’s perimeter attack, taking advantage of LA’s shaky perimeter defense to knock down shots from deep.
With the win, the Lakers improved to 21–11, holding firm in the Western Conference playoff race and snapping their recent skid. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, dropped to 15–19 and extended their losing streak to three games. Still, there’s little time for either team to dwell on the result—the two squads are set to face off again in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 4, in what promises to be another high-stakes showdown.
Looking at the numbers, the Lakers averaged 116.8 points per game before the matchup, while the Grizzlies surrendered 116.5 points on average. Memphis’s offense, putting up 115.9 points per game, was nearly matched by the Lakers’ defensive yield of 117.3. On this night, though, it was the Lakers’ ability to execute in clutch moments—and the brilliance of their superstars—that made the difference.
Fans tuning in on SportsNet LA, FDSSE, and FanDuel Sports Network Midwest Extra, or streaming on Fubo, were treated to a classic Western Conference battle with playoff implications written all over it. For those lucky enough to score tickets on StubHub, the atmosphere in Crypto.com Arena was electric from start to finish.
As the dust settles, both teams know there’s no rest in the relentless NBA schedule. The Lakers will look to build on this crucial victory, while the Grizzlies aim to regroup and snap their skid in the rematch. With the postseason race heating up, every game counts—and if Friday night was any indication, neither team is backing down from the fight.