The Los Angeles Lakers needed overtime, but they posted their third win of the first-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies, 117-111, to take a commanding 3-1 lead.
It was LeBron James delivering the decisive blow to Memphis, as he made an inning layup while being fouled by Dillon Brooks on one chance and one with 29.1 seconds remaining in overtime.
Despite missing the free throw, James’ layup made it a game five with 29.1 seconds remaining, and the Grizzlies were unable to pull off another comeback.
Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates a three-point basket during Round One of Game Four of the 2023 NBA Playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 24, 2023 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. (Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
James finished the game with 22 points on the night on 8-for-18 shooting. But he had an outstanding 20 rebounds to lead the game in that category along with seven assists and two blocks.
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It was also James who took the game into his own hands as the Lakers trailed by two points after Desmond Bane’s layup with 6.1 remaining in the game made the score 104-102 in favor of the visiting team.
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James drove to the basket again and hit a layup with just a tenth of a second left in the game, causing the Crypto.com Arena crowd to erupt.
Ja Morant, who struggled from the field in this instance, tried to hit a game-winning 21-footer on the next play in bounds, but Anthony Davis blocked it to force overtime.
Austin Reaves continues to shine in the playoffs as he led the Lakers in points with 23 on 7-for-16 shooting, including two 3-pointers. He had four rebounds, six assists and also a steal.
Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies drives to the basket during Round One of Game Four of the 2023 NBA Playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 24, 2023 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. (Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Davis struggled offensively for the Lakers in this one, but thankfully the star big man’s missed shots didn’t cost his team in the end. He was 0-for-5 from the floor with just two points in the first half, and ended up going 4-for-13 for 12 points with 11 rebounds.
As for Morant, he was just 8 of 24 from the field with 19 points on the night, along with four rebounds and seven assists. It was Bane who led the game in points with 36 on 13-of-29 shooting.
LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball during Round One of Game Four of the 2023 NBA Playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 24, 2023 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. (Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
However, Bane made just 3 of his 12 3-point attempts, though he went 7-for-7 from the charity strip.
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The series will return to Memphis for a Game 5 that must be won by the home team on Wednesday at 7:30 pm ET.