Lakers: LA's Playoff Streak, a Bad Omen for the Grizzlies

Los Angeles Lakers v Memphis Grizzlies - Game One
(Photo : Justin Ford / Stringer) MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - Ja Morant (#12) of the Memphis Grizzlies handles the ball against LeBron James (#6) and Anthony Davis (#3) of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of Game One of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at FedExForum on April 16, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee.

The Memphis Grizzlies are not in a good position after losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 and facing a team with a streak of 24 consecutive best-of-seven playoff series wins under the same circumstances. This is the longest streak in the league, and it doesn't come as a surprise.

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Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura

The Sunday defeat of the Grizzlies was inflicted by Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura. Reaves and Hachimura assisted each other during the fourth period on critical three-point shots. The most notable play of the night was when Reaves made a behind-the-back pass to Rui for a three-pointer, which increased L.A.'s lead to eight points with three minutes remaining.

In the final quarter, Reaves and Hachimura scored a total of 23 points out of the Lakers' 32 points. This helped the team to win 128-112 against Memphis, and they finished strong with a 15-0 run after Ja Morant got injured. Reaves was responsible for 14 of those points and consistently scored points in the game's later stages. He has become the primary scorer for the Lakers, with LeBron James content to take a lesser role.

Indeed, the previous statistics may hold little relevance in the current series, and the Lakers must still put in a lot of effort in the next games. Nevertheless, the numbers suggest it is challenging to bounce back even from a one-game shortfall. The Lakers won the first game without relying heavily on LeBron James and Anthony Davis' offensive abilities, giving them a cause to be hopeful about the remaining games.

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