Lakers Escape Defeat By Grizzlies In Last 3 Mins

On Monday night, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the host Memphis Grizzlies in a last three minute comeback thanks alot to Kobe Bryant who scored 36 points in the 105-96 victory for the Lakers with 10 of those points down the stretch.

With the Lakers behind 86-85 with 5:58 left in the game, it was Grizzlies O. J. Mayo’s jumper and Mike Conley’s three-point play which gave Memphis a 91-85 lead moments later.

Then, trailing by 93-88 with 3 minutes 8 seconds left, the Lakers finished with an outstanding 17-3 run. Mayo would have the ball stolen by Lakers’ Trevor Ariza who would dish to Lamar Odom for a dunk after the 5:58 timer. Meanwhile, Bryant would drop free throws and a three pointer to bring the Lakers lead to 99-96 with 34.8 on the game clock. A foul by Grizzlies’ Rudy Gay would take Fisher to the line who dropped 1 of 2 to take the lead to 100-96. Gay would follow-up with a lost ball which was picked up by Odom and given to Ariza who was taken to the line after a foul. Odom hit both at the line taking the lead to 102-96 with 22.8 on the clock. This was basically, at this point, a sealed win for the Lakers.

Bryant was 14 of 23 from the field adding to the Lakers 54 percent shot average.

Also, stepping up for the Lakers win was Pau Gasol, in his return to Memphis, with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists; Andrew Bynum with 13 points; Lamar Odom with 12 points and Derek Fisher 11.

On the Grizzlies side, Rudy Gay led with 23 points, O. J. Mayo ‘locked down’ 22 points with 6 assists, Hakim Warrick recorded 14 points and Darko Milicic had 11 with eight boards.