Rui Hachimura scored 32 points, and the Los Angeles Lakers built a sizable lead in the third quarter to defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 136-124 on Wednesday night. LeBron James recorded a triple-double with 23 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 assists.

The Lakers, who were without James on Tuesday night and came off a 128-124 double-overtime victory in Milwaukee, won five straight games to close the gap on idle Dallas to 2 1/2 games and secure the sixth seed in the Western Conference, which would spare them a play-in game.

 

 

After recording a career-high 34 points and 23 rebounds in 52 minutes against Milwaukee, Anthony Davis did not play against Memphis. Against the Bucks, he hyperextended his left knee late in the game.

For Los Angeles, Taurean Prince scored 15 points and D’Angelo Russell added 23.

 

 

26 points and 16 assists from Desmond Bane gave Memphis the lead. Of his 25 points, Jake LaRavia scored 14 in the fourth quarter, and Jaren Jackson added 17. After seven games, the Grizzlies are down six.

The Lakers looked to be having no trouble with their shooting in the first half, leading 69-61 at the half despite the longer game the night before.

In the third quarter, Los Angeles extended their lead to 27 points by making eight of their first ten long-range attempts. Memphis pulled ahead 102-92 going into the fourth quarter after closing the third on a 21-4 surge.