The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Memphis Grizzlies for its first win of the season, 121-118.
Memphis came into the game with an undefeated 2-0 record while Los Angeles craved a win after starting 0-2.
The Lakers had a lead at halftime thanks to Russell Westbrook’s energetic start. The former league MVP racked up eight assists early in the two quarters, and his shot started falling in the second as he put up nine points.
In the third quarter, however, the Grizzlies stormed out of the gates with Ja Morant’s incredible three-level scoring prowess punishing L.A. on every possession. Morant’s downhill attacks resulted in either layups for him or easy baskets for teammates.
But in the final quarter, the Lakers exploded from 3-point range, most notably Carmelo Anthony, and escaped with a win after winning the last-minute free-throw game.
Here’s how the Lakers graded individually after a thriller:
