Game 5 on Wednesday presented the Los Angeles Lakers with the opportunity to get past the first round of the playoffs for only the second time in the last 11 years.
They had to do so on the road against the Memphis Grizzlies, who had the NBA’s best home record during the regular season.
The Grizzlies took an early lead, which they extended to 17 with 4:40 left in the second quarter. Los Angeles trimmed that lead to nine at halftime, and when it came to within one early in the third quarter. It looked like perhaps it was only a matter of time before it would impose its will on the young and chippy Grizzlies.
But the Lakers’ shooting went south late in the period, allowing Memphis to build an 18-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. By that point, the game was over for all intents and purposes.
With a 116-99 win, Ja Morant and company have forced a Game 6 back in Southern California on Friday and trimmed L.A.’s series lead to 3-2. All of a sudden, the pressure will shift back to a Lakers team that is still somewhat untested.