LeBron James shakes off Lakers' loss, says he'll 'be better in Game 6' - ESPN

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Coming into the night tied with Derek Fisher for the most closeout victories in NBA history, there was no sugarcoating it — even with that history on his side — after LeBron James missed 12 of the 17 shots he attempted and coughed up a game-high five turnovers in the Los Angeles Lakers' 116-99 Game 5 loss Wednesday to the Memphis Grizzlies.

«Tonight I was s---,» he said after No. 2-seeded Memphis climbed to within 3-2 in their first-round series with the No. 7 Lakers. «I'll be better in Game 6.»

Anthony Davis, after leading L.A. with 31 points and tying his career playoff high with 19 rebounds, said it was his turn to lift James up after the loss. James did the same for his fellow captain when Davis missed 10 of his 14 shots in the Lakers' Game 2 loss in Memphis.

«I had my head down and he was telling me to keep my head up. And I kind of just relayed that same message to him tonight,» Davis said. "'You have the most points scored ever. You're the best basketball player to ever touch the court.'

«So, it's fine. He'll be fine. He'll adjust. He'll get better. Our team will get better and Friday is another opportunity to close the series.»

L.A. trailed by 14 after the first quarter and nine at halftime before D'Angelo Russell reeled off eight straight points to start the third and close the gap, cutting the Memphis lead to 61-60 and prompting Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins to call timeout.

It was still a one-point game, with Memphis up 75-74, when Lakers coach Darvin Ham subbed Davis out with 4:10 remaining in the third quarter.

The Grizzlies scored seven straight points in the next minute and a half while Davis was out — two buckets at the basket and a 3 by Jaren Jackson Jr. — before Ham called a timeout to