Grizzlies vs Lakers: Luka Dončić drops 44 in Memphis as Lakers grind out NBA Cup win

Luka Dončić returned to the lineup and put his stamp all over Grizzlies vs Lakers, torching Memphis for 44 points with 12 rebounds and 6 assists in a 117–112 road victory on Friday night. The result doubles as a strong start to the Lakers’ NBA Cup group campaign and a statement that Dončić’s early-season form is shaping the Western race.

Dončić’s streak, Lakers’ identity

The night reinforced two truths. First, Luka Dončić is setting the early MVP conversation: this was his third straight 40-point performance to open his season, achieved with a blend of step-back threes, bully-ball post-ups against switches, and live-dribble lasers to cutters. Second, the Lakers look increasingly comfortable in tight possessions. They controlled the final five minutes by flattening the floor, letting Dončić manipulate matchups, and trusting their wings to attack tilted help.

The Lakers spent parts of the first half chasing Memphis’ pace and physicality, but they recalibrated after halftime by tightening defensive assignments on the Grizzlies’ primary creators and cleaning the glass. Once second-chance points dried up for Memphis, Dončić’s half-court mastery decided the margins.

How Grizzlies vs Lakers swung

Memphis built a double-digit cushion with a bruising second quarter, thriving on downhill drives and early-clock threes. Out of the break, the Lakers flipped the script with pressure at the point of attack and better weak-side tagging, holding the Grizzlies to 22 in the third and 21 in the fourth. On offense, the Lakers spammed empty-side actions to force single coverage on Dončić and punished every late help.

Key swing elements in Grizzlies vs Lakers:

• Third-quarter defense: Los Angeles shrank driving lanes and forced contested twos.

• Rebounding discipline: Limiting put-backs blunted Memphis’ momentum.

• Late-game shot diet: Dončić hunted mid-post seals and step-backs; the Lakers lived with high-efficiency looks instead of rushed pull-ups.

Box score snapshot: Lakers at Grizzlies

• Final: Lakers 117, Grizzlies 112

• Lakers leaders: Luka Dončić 44 pts, 12 reb, 6 ast; strong complementary scoring from the wings and timely rim protection late.

• Grizzlies highlights: A 42-point second quarter kept Memphis in front at half; bench energy and paint pressure carried long stretches.

• Team trend: Lakers steadied turnovers after halftime; Grizzlies’ second-half half-court efficiency dipped under tighter coverage.

What this means for the Lakers

For the Lakers, this was more than a single win; it was a template. With Dončić at the controls, the offense doesn’t need fireworks from every spot—just disciplined spacing and decisive cuts. The defense showed a repeatable late-game shape: switch selectively, keep the nail protected, and finish possessions with two hands on the ball. If Los Angeles sustains that formula, the NBA Cup tiebreaks (record, point differential) could tilt their way before the knockout rounds.

The bigger picture: Dončić’s touch time is productive because the surrounding cast is reading and reacting rather than waiting. Slip screens, 45 cuts, and ghost actions are keeping help off-balance. That’s a playoff-ready ecosystem in October.

What this means for the Grizzlies

Memphis proved the scheme works when the tempo is theirs. Early threes and rim attacks forced rotations and unlocked kick-out rhythm. The lesson is timing: the Grizzlies need more of that second-quarter aggression in the closing minutes, where late-clock isolations crept in. Cleaning up defensive rebounding and tracking shooters on those ghost screens will also matter when these teams meet again.

If there’s encouragement, it’s that Memphis created quality looks without needing unsustainable shot-making. With modest tweaks—earlier actions, a few more second-side touches—they can convert close games like this into wins, Cup standings included.

Lakers, Luka Dončić, and the early-season stakes

• Dončić’s start: Three straight 40-plus nights to open his season underscores fitness and rhythm despite a brief absence before Memphis. His on-ball gravity is dictating opponent coverages, and he’s punishing every version: drop, switch, or soft blitz.

• Crunch-time poise: The Lakers’ half-court execution—2-for-1 awareness, foul economy, and purposeful ATOs—travel well in the Cup format and beyond.

• Rotation watch: Expect the Lakers to keep staggering creators so that one elite initiator is always on the floor. That preserves spacing and prevents scoring droughts when Dončić sits.

What’s next after Grizzlies vs Lakers

For the Lakers, banking early NBA Cup wins reduces pressure later and builds seeding leverage. The schedule tightens with quick turnarounds, but the formula isn’t changing: defend without fouling, own the glass, and let Luka Dončić close. For the Grizzlies, the immediate goal is to bottle Friday’s best stretches—pace, paint touches, and bench impact—while sharpening late-game execution.

In a Western Conference where margins are thin, nights like this echo. Grizzlies vs Lakers delivered October drama, but it also sketched out how the Lakers, behind Luka Dončić, intend to win when the stakes rise.