Grizzlies stay aggressive with Morant out, run past ‘old’ Lakers to even series

For a couple of years now, the Memphis Grizzlies have shown they can win without their star player (27-8 over the past two seasons).

On Wednesday night that meant trusting their depth, using their elite defense to smother key Lakers players, plus playing fast and attacking the Lakers (even if the pace of this game was slower than the series opener). The Grizzlies went at them with energy and a hint of desperation. Tyus Jones reminded everyone why he might be the best backup point guard in the NBA, and Memphis got an unexpected boost from Xavier Tillman Sr. and his career-high 22 points plus he pulled down 13 rebounds. It was next man up personified.

The story is different for the Lakers. If Anthony Davis isn’t playing at an elite level — say, shooting 4-of-14 as he did Wednesday night — the Lakers don’t have a good fallback. He is their everything this postseason. This stat from The Athletic’s Jovan Buha sums things up:

Through two games: Lakers with Davis on the court (75 minutes): +23 Lakers with Davis off the court (21 minutes): -17

Wednesday night Memphis locked the Lakers down, which allowed them to push the pace in the first half, built a lead and hold it through the second half to win 103-93 and even the series 1-1.

Game 3 is Saturday in Los Angeles. Ja Morant‘s status for that game is unknown, he is recovering from a “sore right hand” following a nasty fall in Game 1.

Of course, what everyone will be talking about out of this game is Dillon Brooks chirping at LeBron then calling him “old.”

Classic Dillon Brooks on his confrontation with LeBron James: “I don’t care. He’s old. … I poke bears. I don’t respect someone until he gives me 40.”

And Brooks had plenty more to say. pic.twitter.com/uWLONrubPZ

— Tim MacMahon