By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
A convincing display for the Los Angeles Lakers produced a 111-101 victory against the Memphis Grizzlies in crypto.com Arena Saturday.
Anthony Davis posted a 31-point, 17-rebound double-double and LeBron James dropped 25 points in Game 3. Coming off the bench for a European contribution, German Dennis Schroder added seven points, three assists, two steals, and one rebound in 24 minutes. Up 35-9 at the end of the first quarter, the Lakers enjoyed a comfortable lead for most of the 48 minutes.
Returning to action, Ja Morant tucked in 45 points and dished out 13 assists but the Grizzlies fell behind 2-1 in the Western Conference Quarterfinals series. Dillon Brooks was ejected early in the second half after striking LeBron in the groin. Spanish reserve Santi Aldama recorded six points and two rebounds in 11 minutes.
Heat top Giannis-less Bucks but Oladipo suffers serious injury
Missing a second straight game of the 2023 NBA Playoffs with a lower back contusion, Giannis Antetokounmpo saw the Milwaukee Bucks fall to the Miami Heat, 121-99, in Kaseya Center.
From the Freak to the Heat, the injury bug expanded with Victor Oladipo helped off the court after hurting his left knee and Jimmy Butler also picking up an injury earlier in Game 3, besides Tyler Herro recovering from a broken right hand in Game 1.
Taking the 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, Butler registered a game-high 30 points before leaving in the third quarter. Turkish Omer Yurtseven chipped in one assist in his first appearance in the series lasting three minutes. Serbian Nikola Jovic (back) is stuck on the injury list.
With a possible return for Giannis in Monday’s Game 4 in Miami, his brother Thanasis logged a four-minute showing without getting on the board and Slovenian Goran Dragic had two points and one assist over four minutes in Game 3.
Earlier on the NBA Saturdays schedule, the Philadelphia 76ers completed the four-game sweep over the Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns earned a 3-1 lead over the Los Angeles Clippers.
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