Lakers get a boost from supporting cast in Game 1 win over Grizzlies

MEMPHIS, Tenn.-- The Lakers' supporting cast led them to a 128-112 success over the Memphis Grizzlies in Video Game 1 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series on Sunday at FedEx Forum. Rui Hachimura scored 29 points in a reserve function and starter Austin Reaves had 14 of his 23 points throughout a dominant 4th quarter.

Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Wednesday night in Memphis.

The second-seeded Grizzlies played the last 5:48 with leading scorer Ja Morant sidelined by an injury. He fell heavily to the court after a collision under the basket and departed for the locker space, discharging a scream in discomfort that was audible throughout the arena. Morant had 18 points for the Grizzlies.

Jaren Jackson Jr. led Memphis with 31 points.

Lakers coach Darvin Ham assured to give Morant a bunch of various protection looks, but it was Jarred Vanderbilt who drew the preliminary project. Vanderbilt followed Morant here, there and all over in the opening minutes, turning his back to the other action at times.

The seventh-seeded Lakers led by as numerous as 10 points in the first half however routed by 65-59 at halftime. The Lakers lost Anthony Davis for the final 1:15 of the half when he suffered an evident stinger in his right arm during an accident in the paint. The Lakers required a timeout and after that sent Davis to the locker space.

Davis had 10 points and six rebounds in the first half. He went back to the game to begin the third quarter, apparently no even worse for his short-lived arm-numbing injury and finished with 22 points on 10-of-17 shooting, 12 rebounds, seven blocked shots and 3 takes.

Jackson countered with 15 points and five points for the Grizzlies, who tracked by 30-20 in the closing minutes of the first quarter prior to rallying before completion of the half. Morant had 10 points in the half, consisting of a floater in the closing seconds that gave the Grizzlies a 65-59 lead.

The Lakers reclaimed the lead getting in the 4th quarter, taking a 96-90 advantage on the strength of some sizzling shooting from Rui Hachimura, who had 20 points on 7-for-9 shooting through 3 quarters. Hachimura finished 11 for 14 from the field (5 for 6 from 3-point variety).

Far more to come on this story.