The Los Angeles Lakers would undoubtedly be having trouble this season if it weren’t for their superstar tandem, a fact that the NBA was forcefully reminded of on Friday night.

LeBron James and Anthony Davis carried the Lakers to a 123-120 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on Friday. After Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, the two became the first Lakers teammates to score over 35 points and send out five assists in a single game.

Not a single one of their Lakers colleagues scored more than 15 points in the game. On their own court, the lowly Grizzlies, however, put up a figҺt as four of their five starters scored more than 23 points. Jordan Goodwin gave Davis a figҺt down low with 23 points and 17 rebounds, while rookie GG Jackson scored a team-high 31 points while making seven three-pointers.

As 2023–24 draws to a conclusion, Los Angeles is playing some of its greatest basketball of the year. LeBron and company have worked hard to secure as high a seed as possible for the inevitable Play-In Tournament, as evidenced by their 7-3 record over their last ten games.

Since the All-Star break, the Lakers have gone 16-9, salvaging a season that appeared destined to conclude with an early Play-In or playoff departure. Even though the victory over the Grizzlies wasn’t overly convincing, at this stage of the season, every victory counts.