Grizzlies stay alive thanks to massive second-half run against Lakers

Memphis closed the third quarter on a 19-2 run, then registered the first seven points of the fourth to take an insurmountable lead against the Lakers. At one point, the Grizzlies hit seven straight shots, while the Lakers missed seven in a row.

The Grizzlies closed the quarter on an acrobatic layup by Ja Morant, which saw him work around Anthony Davis to give Memphis an 18-point lead going into the final quarter.

Morant finished with 31 points, while teammate Desmond Bane finished with 33 points. Bane made four threes, including a buzzer-beater of his own to end the first quarter.

The Grizzlies would end up needing that big cushion, too, as they went nearly five minutes without a field goal in the fourth quarter. The Lakers, meanwhile, went on a 12-0 run. Ultimately, though, the Lakers looked too tired to really push the Grizzlies two days after their huge overtime win.

LeBron James followed up his first career 20-20 game with a 15-point showing in Game 5. He shot 1-9 from three-point range and did not score in the fourth quarter of the loss.

Overall, the Lakers shot 25.6 percent from distance. D'Angelo Russell had a personal 8-0 run to start the third quarter, but scored only three points outside of that stretch. His most memorable play came when Morant hit him with the "too small" gesture.

The series now returns to Los Angeles for Friday's Game 6, where the Lakers will have a chance to send the Grizzlies home. They had best hope James gets some sleep on the plane.