The last place Los Angeles Lakers lost 99-93 to the first place Memphis Grizzlies in an exciting contest on Wednesday night at Staples Center.
When the bottom team in the Western Conference faces its opposite number, one would expect a blood bath. However, the Lakers played hard defense and spread the basketball around. Kobe Bryant did not even attempt a shot in the first quarter, yet the Lakers led after 12 minutes.
At the half, Bryant had eight points on only four shots, but the Lakers led by five. The Lakers were able to compete due to strong contributions from nearly every player who stepped on the court. Ten Lakers had scored at least one basket by halftime.
In the third quarter, however, the Lakers failed to take care of the basketball and lost their defensive fortitude. In the quarter, the Lakers went from seven points up to seven points down in the blink of an eye. Grizzlies' center Marc Gasol scored 12 in the period to help the Grizzlies outscore the Lakers 34-23 in the quarter. Gasol would finish with 19 points, 11 rebounds and four assists, three blocks and two steals.
The Grizzlies' record combined with Gasol's box score made it easy to understand why Gasol is considered an early MVP candidate.
Entering the fourth quarter, the Lakers trailed by six points, and Bryant had scored an efficient 18 points on only 10 shot attempts. He had willingly shared the basketball, and his teammates had stepped forward to keep the Lakers close. Also, hitting seven of 11 three-pointers until that point helped the Lakers' cause.
In the fourth quarter, the Lakers pushed the Grizzlies but were unable to take the lead. Halfway through the quarter, the Lakers were only down by two points, but the Lakers were unable to level the game or take the lead due to too many wasted possessions.
Down the stretch, the Lakers again cut the lead to one possession when Nick Young was fouled in the process of taking a three-pointer. Young, who continued to struggle with his shot for the third game in a row, managed to hit all three of his foul shots to bring the Lakers within three points with a little over two minutes remaining in the game.
Time and again, the Lakers came away with empty possessions and were unable to erase the Grizzlies' lead.
Over 48 minutes, the Lakers never trailed by more than seven points, but when the final buzzer sounded, the Grizzlies won their 13th game of the season and the Lakers lost their 12th game of the season.
Lakers coach Byron Scott still put on an optimistic face after the game: "The thing that I like right now is the fact that we keep competing and that our defense has gotten better."
The Lakers will hold practice on Thanksgiving morning before taking on the Minnesota TImberwolves on Friday night.
Notes: Lakers coach Byron Scott sat Bryant at the end of the first and third quarters and brough him back a few minutes into the second and fourth quarters in an attempt to rest the 36-year-old. Bryant only attempted 15 shots and scored 22 points. Backup point guard Ronnie Price had his best outing of the season with 11 points and five assists.
