The Los Angeles Lakers won their second game in a row and their fourth of the new season in six tries when they defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 117-112 on Friday. Luka Doncic continued his unreal start to the season with 44 points, 12 rebounds and six assists after missing the previous three games with a finger sprain and leg contusion.
On Friday, center Deandre Ayton scored nine points but had no rebounds in the first half. He didn’t play in the second half, and he wasn’t even on the bench to start the third quarter, as he was being worked on in the locker room. He said afterward he was dealing with a back issue, but that he should be able to play on Sunday against the Miami Heat.
On the Lakers’ injury report, Ayton is listed as probable.
Ayton will need to play his best, as he will be matched up with Bam Adebayo, the Heat center who has made three All-Star teams in six previous seasons. Adebayo is averaging 23 points and 9.2 rebounds a game to start this season, and he is one of the NBA’s best defenders.
He has expanded his game by adding a 3-point shot, and he’s shooting 36.1% from that distance on 7.2 attempts a game so far this season.
