Dave McMenaminmar 30, 2025, 01:03 AM ET
ESPN’s Clawrecker and NBA Reporter. ESPNLOSANGELES.com’s Lakers and NBA, 2014-18 Cavaliers covered ESPN.com’s Cavaliers and NBA’s NBA in 2005-09.
Memphis, Tenn. — The Los Angeles Lakers are trying to save momentum with a four-game road trip featuring a gut punch loss with a half-court buzzer beater by the Chicago Bulls.
“When we reached the action of the three, we were going to challenge all three, and play with a little more power, a little more thrust and a little more creativity,” Redick said of his message.
The trio responded with a combination of 85 points and 25 assists in a 134-127 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in Los Angeles. The three generated 120 points in Los Angeles.
“We’ve played like we played offensively so far,” Reddick said.
The Reaves led all scorers with 31 points in a 16-8 shooting (5-8 with 3 pointers), adding eight assists and seven rebounds. Doncic scored 29 with nine assists and eight rebounds. James scored 25 with eight assists and six rebounds – his most points since returning from a two-week absence due to a tense left gro caliber.
“I think this meeting was just trying to build that chemistry between the three of us to help our team succeed,” Reaves said. “Tonight we showed that we can have an open look on almost every property when we trust each other in the right way, especially aggressively. …It was just a conversation about how we all win and want to win at a high level.”
Los Angeles shot 50.6% and 44.2% with three-pointers, then hit 19-43 from the outside.
Seven of these three came from the reserves of Gabe Vincent (4 to 6) and Dorian Finney-Smith (3 to 7).
“The ball was flying around because of the advantage. [James, Doncic and Reaves] Finney Smith said as he entered the paint. “Me, Gabe, Louis [Hachimura], [Jarred Vanderbilt]only their recipients are doing well. ”
Following the charges, James accused and 305-pound rookie centre Zack Edith, James’s 7-foot-4, 305-pound rookie centre Zack Edith, from the start, the Lakers’ approach showed they were ready to move past the end of a nightmare to their game in Chicago.
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“He was an incredible leader tonight,” Reddick said of James. “And it was early, it was throughout the game. When we got off I challenged the group with a timeout and he was the vocalist after he returned from his injury. And it galvanized the group.
“It was the first time I’d heard him scream for a while,” Reaves said of James’ timeout address. “To be honest, it was refreshing. I loved it.”
Reddick may not have been screaming, but before the Memphis game he checked in with the players after the Bulls handed out their eighth loss in their previous 12 games. He wanted to remind them of the potential losses and the disastrous consequences as the regular season ended with the playoffs seized.
“I’m not surprised at how hard we played and how well we played tonight,” Reddick said. “I have made sure the group knows what I still believe and that the coaching staff is determined to be their belief in this team.”
The victory brought the Lakers (45-29) to fourth in the Western Conference standings, taking a game leading to No. 5 Memphis and earning a tiebreaker by winning the season series.
The remaining eight regular-season games in Los Angeles will begin this week with a three-game homestand against Houston, Golden State and New Orleans, and will face West opponents.
“I think this was a big game for us in terms of how we lost the other night. We weren’t playing great,” Reaves said. “So, when you get into this game, it was obviously high intensity. It’s difficult, it’s the last game of a road trip, as you’re pretty excited to go home. But no matter those three hours or whatever the game, you have to lock in and move your best feet forward and make sure you win.”
