NBA Playoffs
LeBron James hits ‘oldest NBA player to...’ record in Lakers Game 4 win
A late leveller from the King against the Grizzlies took the game to overtime in Los Angeles and he kept it going to make it 3-1.
On Monday, the Los Angeles Lakers clinched a 117-111 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in the first-round Western Conference playoff series, taking a commanding 3-1 lead. LeBron James was the driving force behind the win, scoring 22 points, including two crucial layups in overtime. He also set a career-high with 20 rebounds. Additionally, Austin Reaves contributed 23 points to the game, helping the Lakers take control of the series.
LeBron becomes NBA’s oldest 20-20
The last Lakers player to score 20-plus points and grab 20-plus rebounds in a playoff game was Shaquille O’Neal back in 2004. But not only does The King rack up a piece of history for his Los Angeles franchise, in hitting a 20-20 in Game 4 he also became the oldest player in NBA history to do so.
That record had belonged to Wilt Chamberlain who passed away in 1999 at the age of 63. Chamberlain played for the University of Kansas before being drafted into the NBA in 1959 where he starred for the Philadelphia Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Lakers during his career, which spanned from lasted until 1973. Chamberlain was a four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, a 13-time NBA All-Star, and a two-time NBA champion. He set numerous records during his career, including scoring 100 points in a single game, a feat that has never been matched.
Lakers 117-111 Grizzlies: how it went down
The Lakers, seeded seventh, now have a chance to eliminate the Grizzlies in Game 5 on Wednesday at Memphis. D’Angelo Russell scored 17 points, including three key 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, before fouling out. Anthony Davis, who had been struggling with hip discomfort after a second-quarter injury, was limited to just 12 points but contributed five points in overtime and 11 rebounds.
In contrast, the Grizzlies struggled to keep up with the Lakers. Desmond Bane scored 36 points, and Ja Morant added 19, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap. Memphis is now 0-3 in the series with Morant on the floor. Jaren Jackson Jr. had an impressive showing with 14 points, 14 rebounds, and five blocks, while Xavier Tillman added 12 points.
The Grizzlies took the lead late in regulation, but James evened the score with a driving layup with 0.8 on the clock and then sealed the victory with another layup in overtime after being fouled by Dillon Brooks. Desmond Bane’s impressive performance was not enough to turn the tide, and the Grizzlies now face the possibility of elimination in Game 5.
The Lakers led 29-23 after one quarter, and despite Memphis closing the gap, they managed to hold on for the win. Morant aggravated his hand injury in the third quarter on Monday, but stayed in the game and Davis put in big block on Morant’s shot at the regulation buzzer, before the Lakers took control in overtime to secure the win.