LaRavia Haunts Former Team as Lakers Grind Out Another Win Over Memphis 120-114
It’s often said that the NBA is a business, but for Jake LaRavia, Sunday night felt personal. Just two nights after helping the Los Angeles Lakers edge out the Memphis Grizzlies, the forward found himself back on the floor against the franchise that drafted him, looking to prove a point. And prove it he did.
In a game that swung wildly between gritty defensive stands and fluid offensive bursts, the Lakers secured a 120-114 victory at Crypto.com Arena, handing the Grizzlies their fourth straight loss. While superstars LeBron James and Luka Doncic posted their usual eye-popping numbers, it was the unlikely heroics of LaRavia—scoring 26 points against his old squad—that had the arena buzzing.
For a Lakers team trying to shake off a rough end to the calendar year, this wasn’t just a win; it was a statement of resilience.
A Tale of Two Halves for the Purple and Gold
The night didn’t start pretty for Los Angeles. The Grizzlies, desperate to snap their losing skid, came out swinging. Memphis took advantage of a sluggish Lakers defense in the first half, building a 65-54 lead by the break. They were aggressive, faster to loose balls, and seemed to have an answer for every Lakers rotation.
But the second half was a different story. The Lakers emerged from the locker room with a renewed sense of urgency. Their defensive intensity ratcheted up, holding Memphis to just 22 points in the third quarter. It was the kind of adjustment that separates playoff contenders from the rest of the pack. Slowly but surely, the lead evaporated, setting the stage for a fourth-quarter showdown that would come down to the wire.
Doncic and James Deliver in Crunch Time
When the game is on the line, there are few duos in basketball history you’d rather have than LeBron James and Luka Doncic. They combined for a staggering 62 points, 16 rebounds, and 18 assists, completely controlling the flow of the game down the stretch.
Doncic, in particular, was lethal from deep when it mattered most. With the Lakers clinging to a precarious lead late in the fourth, he buried back-to-back three-pointers that felt like daggers to the heart of the Grizzlies’ defense. Those shots extended the lead to 112-103, giving Los Angeles the breathing room they desperately needed.
James was equally instrumental, orchestrating the offense and finding open teammates with surgical precision. His chemistry with LaRavia was palpable, feeding the hot hand repeatedly. It’s a luxury for any role player to have two generational talents trusting them in big moments, and LaRavia didn’t let that trust go to waste.
LaRavia’s Revenge Game Narrative Continues
The storyline coming into this mini-series was mostly about the star power, but Jake LaRavia stole the show. After a solid 21-point outing on Friday, he upped the ante on Sunday. He finished with 26 points on efficient 9-of-16 shooting, including four three-pointers.
“It started with Jake; he was locked in from the beginning,” James said after the game. It’s high praise from the league’s all-time leading scorer, and it highlights just how vital LaRavia has become to this rotation.
For Memphis, seeing their former first-round pick thrive in a Lakers uniform has to sting. LaRavia looked comfortable, confident, and perhaps most importantly, aggressive. He wasn’t just spotting up; he was attacking closeouts and finishing at the rim. His late three-pointer with just over two minutes remaining was a critical blow that stalled a furious Memphis rally.
Memphis Fights Hard but Falls Short
Credit to the Grizzlies—they didn’t roll over. Despite missing Ja Morant and dealing with a slew of injuries, they fought tooth and nail. Jaylen Wells was a bright spot for Memphis, dropping 23 points and looking every bit the part of a future building block. Jaren Jackson Jr. added 14 points, though he struggled with foul trouble, which limited his impact on the defensive end.
The Grizzlies forced 20 Lakers turnovers, converting them into 27 points. It kept them in the game even when their half-court offense stagnated. But in the end, the talent gap was just too wide to bridge. The Lakers’ ability to generate high-quality looks in the closing minutes, contrasted with Memphis struggling to execute, was the difference-maker.
Looking Ahead for the Lakers
With this win, the Lakers improve to 21-11, solidifying their spot near the top of the Western Conference standings. It hasn’t been a perfect season, but finding ways to win when you aren’t playing your best basketball is a hallmark of good teams.
The integration of LaRavia into the starting lineup due to injuries has been a revelation. If he can maintain even a fraction of this production once the roster is fully healthy, the Lakers will have a depth advantage that few teams can match.
Los Angeles now looks to build on this momentum. They’ve weathered the storm of a difficult schedule and injuries, and with their stars clicking and role players stepping up, the ceiling for this group remains championship-high. For Memphis, the search for answers continues as they head home, hoping to get healthy and salvage their season.
