After making a furious push to reach the 2023 NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers began the first round with a bang by defeating the Memphis Grizzlies 128-112. But after losing Game 2 by 10 points, the pressure was on them to defend their home court in Game 3 and take control of the series.
If Game 1 was a bang for L.A., the opening minutes of Game 3 were a supernova. The team came out with a defensive vengeance and held Ja Morant and crew to just nine first-quarter points, and Anthony Davis was perhaps the biggest reason. He grabbed eight rebounds in just the first quarter, and on the other end, he added eight points.
The Lakers still led 53-37 at halftime, and in the third quarter, Davis kept them in control with 15 points. He finished the contest with 31 points, 17 rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals as they secured a 111-101 win and a 2-1 series lead.
The performance made Davis only the fourth player since 1973 to have at least 65 points, 35 rebounds and 15 blocks in their first three games of the playoffs in a particular season. The other three? Tim Duncan, Hakeem Olajuwon and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Not bad company, especially for a superstar big man who is often maligned by fans of his own team for supposed laziness and lack of motivation.