Lakers News: Grizzlies Stumble Into Unwanted Season Record In Game 3

Lakers fans must hope Memphis repeats the feat again tonight.

During an eventual wire-to-wire 111-101 Los Angeles Lakers Game 3 victory in their ongoing first round series against the Memphis Grizzlies, LA looked more or less unstoppable in its first quarter-and-a-half.

Through one quarter, LA obliterated Memphis, taking a 36-9 lead thanks to the hot scoring starts of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, D'Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura. That margin tied the biggest-ever advantage in a playoff game through its first frame.

While the Lakers were enjoying a record-tying achievement, the Grizzlies found themselves wallowing in an unwanted 2022-23 season nadir. According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN, that nine-point opening period represents the lowest score in any quarter by any club this entire year.

Of course, the game doesn't end after one quarter. The Grizzlies managed to claw their way back into the competition by the bout's second half, thanks mostly to the heroic efforts of Memphis All-Star point guard Ja Morant, who scored 24 of his 45 total points in the fourth quarter alone to shave his team's margin to as few as 10 points. But things never got closer than that.

The Lakers are certainly hoping that Memphis can repeat that Game 3 opening quarter level of dysfunction tonight, when the series resumes for a second straight Los Angeles home contest, at 7 p.m. PT on TNT.

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