The Los Angeles Lakers can send themselves to the second round with a win this Saturday against the Memphis Grizzlies. Will the Lakers complete the upset? Or, will the Grizzlies find a way to force Game 7?

Catch this game live on Saturday, April 29, at 10:30 AM, Manila time

Away: Memphis Grizzlies (2-3)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Ja Morant
  • SG: Desmond Bane
  • SF: Dillon Brooks
  • PF: Jaren Jackson Jr.
  • C: Xavier Tillman

The Grizzlies live to fight another game after thwarting Los Angeles at home in Game 5, 116-99. The backcourt duo of Desmond Bane and Ja Morant ate up a large chunk of Memphis’ shot distribution and combined for 64 points on 25/47 shooting from the field. With how things are going for the Nuggets, they will have to continue riding the hot hands of Morant and Bane, while cutting down on Dillon Brook’s attempts. 

Brooks has been a disaster with the ball in the series, as he’s averaging just 10.6 points on an atrocious 30.3 percent shooting from the floor. It might be better for Memphis to see Xavier Tillman and Jaren Jackson Jr. get more looks. Also watch out for the status of Grizzlies sharpshooter Luke Kennard, who’s day-to-day with a shoulder issue.

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Home: Los Angeles Lakers (3-2)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: D’Angelo Russell
  • SG: Austin Reaves
  • SF: LeBron James 
  • PF: Jarred Vanderbilt
  • C: Anthony Davis 

The Lakers will get another shot at ending the championship dreams of Memphis this season. They failed to close out the series last Thursday, but not without coming away impressed with what Anthony Davis did on the court. Davis clobbered Memphis’ defense for 31 points while also pulling down 19 rebounds. 

At his best, Davis is a problem the Grizzlies don’t have much of an answer to, and that’s even considering the fact that they have the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. The Lakers also hoping to see some positive regression with their shooting after making just 40.2 percent of their shots in Game 5. LeBron James played like a normal 38-year-old and shot just 5/17 for 15 points in the loss, but he can still be expected to be more efficient. Through five games in the playoffs, the Lakers are averaging 109.6 points on a 44.8 field goal percentage.

PREDICTIONS:

Spread: The Grizzlies (+4.5) cover the spread.

Over/Under: The total (218.5) hits the Over.

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