Kobe Bryant scored 29 points for Los Angeles on Tuesday against Memphis but it wasn’t enough as the Grizzlies held off a late run to defeat the Lakers 98-96.
Grizzlies guard Mike Conley scored 10 of his season-high 28 points in the fourth quarter to lead Memphis. The defending NBA champions have lost three in a row, just the second three-game skid for the Lakers since they traded with Memphis for Pau Gasol.
The Grizzlies have won four straight at home and four of five overall to improve to 8-10 on the season. Los Angeles fell to 13-5.
The Lakers had a chance to at least tie the game or win at the end. Conley lost the ball when he drove the lane and crashed into Pau Gasol.
Bryant passed to Ron Artest for a 3-pointer for the win, but Rudy Gay blocked the shot as the Grizzlies held on for their second win in four games against the Lakers.
Memphis continued a trend by forcing the Lakers into 14 turnovers and blocked 11 shots, six of which were from Gay.
The Grizzlies had well-balanced scoring with six players in double figures. After Conley’s 28 points, Gay tossed in 14, Zach Randolph had 13, rookie Xavier Henry scored 12, O.J. Mayo had 11 and Marc Gasol had 10 points.
Other than Bryant, the Lakers had only two players in double figures with Pau Gasol scoring 15 points and grabbing 14 rebounds while Artest had 12 points.
Memphis doesn’t get much time to enjoy their win over Los Angeles as they travel to Atlanta tonight to face the Hawks.
