LeBron’s 3 Lifts Lakers, Grizzlies End Spurs’ Season

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Lakers' postseason run opened with Wednesday's win-and-you're-in play-in game against the Golden State Warriors. And it took everything the defending champions had to win it, 103-100.

LeBron James' 34-foot 3-point heave to beat the shot clock buzzer fell through the net with 58.2 seconds remaining, breaking a tie at 100 and giving L.A. the lead for good.

James, playing on a right ankle that caused him to miss 26 of the Lakers' final 30 games because of a sprain, finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists for the first play-in triple-double in the tournament's two-season existence.

Get our free mobile app

With the win, the Lakers claimed the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference playoffs, and they will face the second-seeded Phoenix Suns in the first round.

Grizzlies End Spurs’ Season, Advance to Face Warriors

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The young Memphis Grizzlies finally have a play-in victory to their credit, yet they’re nowhere near satisfied.

Dillon Brooks scored eight of his 24 points in the fourth quarter to put Memphis ahead to stay and the Grizzlies eliminated the San Antonio Spurs 100-96 on Wednesday night in the first Western Conference play-in game.

“It feels good, but I mean we’re not in the playoffs yet,” Grizzlies guard Ja Morant said. “Just have to turn the page.”

The Grizzlies will play at Golden State on Friday night for the No. 8 seed and a first-round series starting Sunday against top-seeded Utah. Memphis is trying to snap a skid of three straight seasons without a postseason berth with last season ending with a loss to Portland in the NBA’s first play-in game.

UP NEXT:

The Indiana Pacers will face the Wizards in Washington on Thursday night.