Memphis Grizzlies vs Los Angeles Lakers: Play by Play Analysis

The Memphis Grizzlies are looking to even up their series against the Los Angeles Lakers after falling behind 1-0. The key to their success lies in their ability to exploit Anthony Davis, who has been a defensive nightmare for them so far. By moving Julius Randle around the court and luring Davis out of the paint, the Grizzlies can take advantage of his limitations on offense.

Through two games, Randle has shot 15-for-22 from the floor against every Laker not named Anthony Davis, making him a viable option for the Grizzlies to target. In contrast, he's shot only 3-for-11 against Davis, who has been an absolute menace in the paint.

The Lakers, on the other hand, have leaned more on Davis as their primary matchup against the Grizzlies. This strategy has worked for them so far, with Davis contributing 28 points and 12 rebounds in Game 2. However, the Grizzlies' tighter perimeter coverage and sharp rotations have made it difficult for the Lakers to create scoring opportunities.

One area where the Lakers struggled was on the glass, where they were outrebounded by the Grizzlies 42-34. This gave Memphis more chances to fast break and create easy points without Ja Morant.

The Lakers also struggled with errant shooting, particularly from D'Angelo Russell, who went 1-for-6 inside the arc and 1-for-5 outside it. Davis wasn't much better, shooting only 4-for-14 from the floor. The team's overall shooting percentage of 32.1% was their worst in two games.

In addition to their poor shooting, the Lakers also committed a handful of sloppy turnovers early in the game, which short-circuited their possessions and gave Memphis more opportunities to score.

The Grizzlies' victory was not without its own share of struggles, however. They shot only 24% on contested field goals, their worst mark so far this postseason. Despite these challenges, they were able to capitalize on the Lakers' mistakes and even the series at 1-1.

Overall, both teams will look to improve their shooting and reduce their turnovers as they head into Game 3. The Grizzlies will need to continue to exploit Davis's limitations on offense if they hope to take control of the series.

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