Los Angeles Lakers vs. Memphis Grizzlies: Play-by-play, highlights and reactions
Game Time: 8:00 PM EST on Thursday December 9, 2021
Los Angeles Lakers 21, Memphis Grizzlies 17 (Q1 02:59)
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Los Angeles Lakers @LakersBrodie to a cutting 👑
(📺: @SpectrumSN) pic.twitter.com/F4ii0UkMNl – 8:29 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
The Lakers are trying to run the Grizzlies over with the transition game early, and LeBron has been the heart of it: 5 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks and running, running, running. He’s been a menace in his “free safety” role on defense and killing on outlets and postups – 8:28 PM The Ringer @ringernba
DROP THE HAMMER THT 😳
(📼 @Los Angeles Lakers)
pic.twitter.com/TkIOeWUgqG – 8:24 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Really sharp start from LeBron here in Memphis.
Two blocks, three assists (plus a hit-ahead pass that got Davis two FT’s), two boards and a steal wiith five points as LAL hold a 19-15 lead. – 8:24 PM Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
The Thunder list Vit Krejci and Aaron Wiggins as OUT tomorrow against the Lakers. LAL will not have to release an injury report until tomorrow afternoon. – 8:24 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
THT x 🧨
(📺: @SpectrumSN) pic.twitter.com/TyUQiWQKkx – 8:23 PM Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
LeBron waiting for the double makes more sense in shooting heavy lineups. – 8:23 PM Joe Mullinax @sbnGrizzlies
Kyle Anderson checks in for Desmond Bane, for his 1st appearance in about a week-ish.
Jones, Melton, Anderson, Tillie, Adams – 8:22 PM Memphis Grizzlies @memgrizz
that beale street side step is money pic.twitter.com/6OxMYYONSE – 8:22 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Even in the halfcourt, you’re seeing Anthony Davis able to spread Steven Adams out from the paint, opening the lane on that THT drive just now. – 8:21 PM Joe Mullinax @sbnGrizzlies
first time, as the Lakers are up 14-8 with 7:32 left in the 1st.
the arena sounded like a damn home playoff game these past 3 Laker buckets – 8:18 PM Memphis Grizzlies @memgrizz
GET MOBILE DES pic.twitter.com/jjJ5EqMqdR – 8:17 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Three straight Laker dunks forced a Grizzlies time out, as THT, LeBron and AD took turns throwing it down.
LAL lead 14-8. – 8:17 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Three straight fastbreak dunks for the Lakers, to the delight of this decidedly pro-Lakers crowd. Talen, LeBron and AD all flush after Jaren Jackson hits the bench with two fouls, putting the Lakers up 14-8. – 8:17 PM Dave McMenamin @mcten
Three straight dunks for the Lakers here in Memphis to take an early 14-8 lead. – 8:17 PM Joe Mullinax @sbnGrizzlies
2 fouls for Jaren. Killian Tillie comes in to replace him – 8:15 PM Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Taylor Jenkins looks like someone who makes a living podcasting about the Grizzlies. AK – 8:15 PM Joe Mullinax @sbnGrizzlies
More people cheered for that Avery Bradley 3 just now than they ever did for any basket he hit as a Grizzly – 8:14 PM Drew Hill @DrewHill_DM
Desmond Bane on pace for about 100 tonight. – 8:14 PM Joe Mullinax @sbnGrizzlies
With LeBron and AD at the 4 and 5, that means Adams is taking AD, and Jaren is guarding LeBron.
Major developmental opportunity for Trip. – 8:13 PM Memphis Grizzlies @memgrizz
Let’s hoop.
📺 @GrizzOnBally
📻 @929espn – 8:12 PM Drew Hill @DrewHill_DM
12 jump balls in a row for Steven Adams. Unstoppable. – 8:11 PM Drew Hill @DrewHill_DM
With Dillon Brooks in protocol De’Anthony Melton replaces him as the pregame dancer in the Grizzlies huddle – 8:08 PM Malika Andrews @malika_andrews
When talking about the Lakers, we often discuss their Big 3. But @Dave McMenamin dove deeper into their potentially dynamic duo. New on NBA Today: pic.twitter.com/GD6TxEV410 – 8:08 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Purple & Gold pic.twitter.com/fKWm7iz5GX – 8:05 PM Drew Hill @DrewHill_DM
With no Morant, Brooks, Clarke, Williams, Merrill we are pretty certain to get some new combos from Taylor Jenkins tonight.
Excluding Merrill, the Grizzlies haven’t been missing two guards during the injury report log jam. Sooooo, more Konchar minutes? – 7:54 PM Memphis Grizzlies @memgrizz
tonight’s starting five vs. @Los Angeles Lakers
@Tyus Jones
@De’Anthony Melton
@Desmond Bane
@jarenjacksonjr
@RealStevenAdams
@Verizon | #GrzNxtGen pic.twitter.com/q0mQq8upga – 7:50 PM Joe Mullinax @sbnGrizzlies
Starting 5’s
Lakers: Westbrook, Bradley, Horton-Tucker, LeBron, Davis
Grizzlies: Jones, Melton, Bane, Jackson, Adams
Dillon Brooks is out tonight with health and safety protocols – 7:47 PM Joe Mullinax @sbnGrizzlies
A big applause from the fans when the Lakers came out for warmups, and there’s a lot of purple and gold. Is Memphis a holiday hotspot? Surely the weather is nicer in LA? – 7:46 PM Dan Favale @danfavale
anthony davis starting at the 5 again? pic.twitter.com/zMSwPcrQEM – 7:38 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Lakers using the same starters against the Grizzlies:
Anthony Davis
LeBron James
Talen Horton-Tucker
Avery Bradley
Russell Westbrook – 7:35 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Tonight’s starters 🙌
#SuitingUpTogether | @ToyotaSoCal pic.twitter.com/sVXgxaoGh3 – 7:34 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Lakers are rolling out the same starting lineup they had against Boston: Talen, LeBron, AD, Bradley and Russ. – 7:31 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Gold 🆚 Grizzlies
#LakeShow x @bibigoUSA pic.twitter.com/8AHMwfRsFO – 7:22 PM Joe Mullinax @sbnGrizzlies
Kyle Anderson WILL be playing tonight, after missing the past week and a half due to back soreness pic.twitter.com/W2oI4jeP8h – 7:17 PM Memphis Grizzlies @memgrizz
Cozy. Drippy. Causal.
Which fit are you?
@cintronworld | #GrzNxtGen pic.twitter.com/WS8riAetpc – 7:16 PM David Locke @DLocke09
Top 5 big man pick and roll defenders
1. Draymond Green
2. Joel Embiid
3. Anthony Davis
4. Rudy Gobert
5. Jaren Jackson Jr. – 7:04 PM Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Grizzlies Dillon Brooks rips officials after ejection against Mavericks nba.nbcsports.com/2021/12/09/gri… – 7:01 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Invest in hard work.
#LakeShow x @DWS_Group pic.twitter.com/WESIEit677 – 7:00 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Rajon Rondo was listed as questionable with gastroenteritis, and has been downgraded to out for tonight’s game at Memphis.
Rondo has been out of the regular rotation for the past few weeks. – 6:59 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Rajon Rondo (gastroenteritis) is out against the Grizzlies, per the Lakers. – 6:46 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
The Lakers say Rajon Rondo is officially out with, erm, let’s call it stomach discomfort. – 6:46 PM Joe Mullinax @sbnGrizzlies
Steven Adams and Xavier Tillman working out in pregame pic.twitter.com/W5cIHHz1XT – 6:45 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Frank Vogel says there’s no updated timeline on Trevor Arita’s return, but mentions it’s possible that he joins the G League team after the road trip if the Lakers determine he needs more live work. – 6:40 PM Drew Hill @DrewHill_DM
Lakers coach Frank Vogel said he believes Taylor Jenkins is one of the bright coaches in this league and the Grizzlies’ record without Ja Morant is indicative of that. – 6:40 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Frank Vogel said there is no update on Trevor Ariza’s return timetable, but he said that Ariza might spend some time with the South Bay Lakers next week on an off-day to help with his ramp-up for his eventual return. – 6:40 PM Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Frank Vogel on Trevor Ariza: “We’re hoping to have him potentially practice with the G League next week. … If that’s necessary to get more live work. … No update on the exact timeline.” – 6:39 PM Meghan Triplett @Meghan_Triplett
Kyle Anderson is a game-time decision tonight for the @Memphis Grizzlies vs Lakers, per Coach Taylor Jenkins. – 6:26 PM Joe Mullinax @sbnGrizzlies
Taylor Jenkins thinks Russell Westbrook does a great job of playing to his strengths — highlighted his transition play and the force he plays with – 6:25 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Trevor Ariza warming up ahead of the Grizzlies game pic.twitter.com/hcRPNiRVt5 – 6:25 PM Memphis Grizzlies @memgrizz
#50ForDaCity Bonus Feature: ZBO the #GirlDad 💙
Full documentary: https://t.co/MFE0WbKCQb pic.twitter.com/rQES0DVzNi – 6:12 PM Chiney Ogwumike @chiney
The Lakers are one of the oldest teams in the league… but here’s where Russell Westbrook makes the biggest impact: pic.twitter.com/GisGhigbpg – 6:11 PM DeAndre Jordan @DeAndre
#35 @TobiOye… – 5:02 PM Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Free pod: Ben Taylor @ElGee35 on NBA Evolution, The Value of Guard Defense, Greatest NBA Peaks, and Top-75 Snubs: https://t.co/wcjuu4c8Xa
Dunc’d On Total Access members get this episode ad-free, plus our other 4 pods per week. Subscribe: https://t.co/XSgwN6kjka pic.twitter.com/nmzoeZtYxl – 4:00 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Memphis in the meantime
: 5:00 p.m. PT
📺: @SpectrumSN
📻: ESPN LA 710 & 1330 KWKW
#LakeShow x @socios
nba.com/lakers/news/th… – 3:52 PM Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Updated Lakers’ status report for tonight’s game against the Grizzlies – Only real change is Rajon Rondo’s status: pic.twitter.com/Ql3OB1mxhR – 3:12 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Join Russ, Bron and the #LakeShow for their rivalry win over the Celtics 🙌 – 2:55 PM Memphis Grizzlies @memgrizz
Listen to @Jaren Jackson Jr.. Come to support the gang at @FedExForum.
🎟: https://t.co/pggxWBVfgr pic.twitter.com/lqV0ah1q3J – 2:45 PM Luke Kennard @LukeKennard5
Excited to check out the American Express x NBA 2K22 Experience on Sunday! The 1st-ever NBA 2K22 shop is providing access to free Locker Codes for Card Members & fun activities for all fans. Go to
901 W Olympic Blvd in LA! https://t.co/BMRWPhd61V #AmexAmbassador #ad pic.twitter.com/rUbYo2ZoEY – 2:15 PM Memphis Grizzlies @memgrizz
During the last road trip, Jaren Jackson Jr. played 62 minutes and traveled 4.50 miles at an average of 4.03 MPH.
@FedEx | #PlayerTracker pic.twitter.com/KiDnfVNVWL – 2:00 PM