Nba, Melo rekindles the Lakers: with Memphis first victory of the year

Suffered, fought, sealed only at the end. But it is the victory the Lakers needed, the one that breaks the curse of this 2021-22 that started with 6 defeats in a row in the preseason and two in the first two regular season games. The 121-118 of the Staples Center against Memphis is not the magical end of the Lakers’ problems, still a work in progress, but a preview of what this team can be, of its infinite potential. The hero of the evening is Carmelo Anthony, 28 points with which he not only climbs to 9th place in the ranking of the best scorers ever, overcoming Moses Malone, but with whom he makes the difference in the fourth period, including the free throws who at 1 ” 9 from the end put the result on ice. In Memphis, at the first knockout of the season, there remains the enormous regret of the wrong free throw by Ja Morant, by far the best in the field (40 points), 2 ”from the end: it is that of the missed connection that could have meant extra.

Melo & co

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Anthony is the Lakers MVP. Relentless from the bow (6/8), decisive in the final, praised by the public as if that of the yellow-violet was the only tank top ever worn. Melo finds the heavy baskets of a game in which the Lakers show off their stars: Anthony Davis, 22 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks, is an extraordinary defensive bulwark (“He was exceptional” coach Vogel praises him); LeBron James (19 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists), although far from his best, has the merit of getting things moving again in the fourth period; Russell Westbrook plays his best game since the Lakers, turning especially in the first half (10 of his 13 assists) into that metronome that Vogel wants. The hosts in the first half also showed that impenetrable defense on which the coach wants to build the successes of this season. Steps forward, but also many things to improve: the team is still running in gusts, the stars have yet to figure out how to perform at their best together, the coach is still trying to understand the rotations. “We have a clear idea of ​​who we can be, but we also know that we still have a long way to go to get there,” said Vogel, satisfied at the end of the race.

Lost opportunity

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The regret of Memphis is in that free mistaken by Morant, the third of three, that of the extra possible. The half-empty glass is the vanished victory at the end, the half-full one is that the Grizzlies have confirmed that they can be protagonists. Above all thanks to their star, unleashed fury who also added 10 assists to 40 points, putting in a series of circus baskets and showing that in the summer he worked on the three-point shot (5/7) and that he is ready to rise to the All level. Star. Around him too little Jaren Jackson Jr (12 points and 3/12 shooting), exhausted from the fight with Davis, overflowing Steven Adams (14 points, 16 rebounds and 6 assists) and Desmond Bane (22 points). The weak link is the bench: 22 points, half that of the Lakers. Coach Jenkins has something to work on.

The match

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The initial 17-7 in Memphis is the slap that wakes up the Lakers, who, inspired by Westbrook’s assists in the second quarter, try to escape at 50-38 but recover before the break (62-56). The Grizzlies take control of the area in the third period and with Morant (10 points and 6 assists) run away at 90-87 when the siren sounds. Melo with 8 points in 4 ‘inspires the Lakers, at 106-97 at 7’03 “from the end. Cyclone Morant, however, brings back Memphis, it is the final and a puzzle that is solved only at the end, when the Grizzlies star misses the third free in the bezel, lacks the hook, and allows Carmelo to close the match with the time trial stopped. And to give the Lakers that victory necessary to continue to be able to ask for patience.

LA Lakers:Anthony 28 (4/7 of two, 6/8 of three, 2/2 free throws), Davis 22, James 19. Rebounds: Jordan 8, Davis 8. Assists: Westbrook 13.

Memphis:Morant 40 (8/14, 5/7, 9/11 tl), Bane 17, Adams 14. Rebounds: Adams 16. Assist: Morant 10.