Lakers recover from Bulls meltdown with win over Grizzlies, who drop first game since firing Taylor Jenkins

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / Reuters

The Los Angeles Lakers got a much-needed win Saturday, against a team suddenly trying to figure out its future.

There were no shooters left open, inbounds turnovers or Josh Giddey buzzer-beaters this time. Los Angeles recovered from its absolute howler of a loss to the Chicago Bulls with a 134-127 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, a day after Memphis stunned the basketball world by firing head coach Taylor Jenkins.

It was also Ja Morant's first game back after missing six games with a hamstring injury. He had 22 points and 10 assists in 31 minutes.

All three of LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves posted at least 25 points, with James and Dončić recreating perhaps the most iconic photo of James career, his dual portrait with Dwyane Wade during his stint with the Miami Heat.

Reaves paced the team with 31 points, plus eight assists and seven rebounds.

It was all Lakers early on, with a lead growing to as many as 20 points in the second quarter, but Memphis runs briefly gave them the lead in both the third and fourth quarters. 

The Lakers entered Saturday having last four of their past five games and eight of their last 12. Many of those losses were attributable to injuries — James missed two weeks with a groin injury — but Los Angeles was only 1-3 since James came back. Had they not been able to beat a Grizzlies team playing its first game under interim coach Tuomas Iisalo, it would have been concerning.

Los Angeles is now tied with the Grizzlies for fourth place in the ...