Valančiūnas extended a record series of doubles doubles, Gasolis’s bloody return to Memphis

The Lakers’ visit to Memphis became the first game of Grizzlies leader Marco Gasol’s career at FedEx Forum in the opposing team’s outfit. The Spaniard, who was deported from Memphis to Toronto on February 7, 2019, has not had that opportunity until now; after the trade, the Raptors never met the Grizzlies in Memphis.

The highest who signed with the California club during the offseason remains the Grizzlies’ record holder in terms of hits (4,040), rebounds (5,942), blocks (1,135), triple-doubles (5) and minutes played ( 25,917) and ranks second in the number of games played (769). ) and points won (11,684).

While the Tennessee State Club plays at home without spectators, a special video was shown on the big screen of the FedEx Forum stadium during the first minute of rest, in which the organization thanked the Spaniard for his year in Memphis.

Marc came to town at age 16, along with his older brother Pau, who made it to the Grizzlies, and heard his name on the third call in the 2001 rookie trade. After a trade with the Raptors, Gasol Jr. went to Toronto in Memphis to see the birth of her two children.

The return to the Spanish arena, which has been called home for more than ten years, ended with two impressions: the joy of victory was compounded by the episode that ended in blood in the second half. In the Grizzlies’ fight for the ball, Canadian Dillon Brooks broke Gasol’s eyebrow, and when team doctors couldn’t stop the bleeding in 30 seconds, Marc fired two free throws and left the field.

The Spaniard, who was able to return to the park in the second half of the game, marked the return to Memphis with 7 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. At the end of January, the tall man celebrating his 36th birthday spent 24 minutes in the square.

Jonas Valančiūnas, who is on the other side of the Raptors and Grizzlies trade, continued the impeccable series of double-doubles in this encounter. For the sixth time in six games this season, Utena has scored 14 points (7/13 dvit., 0/1 trit.), 10 rebounds, one assists and two interceptions and two errors in 26 minutes.

Only three basketball players remained at this year’s NBA Championships, and their appearance on the field each time became a guaranteed double. Valančiūnas, Domantas Sabonis and Andre Drummondas of the Cleveland Cavaliers continue the series of six such games.

The successful start to the Lithuanian season also became the third longest series of its kind in Grizzlies history. In the 1999-00 season, Shareef Abdur-Rahim started 9, and in the 2012-13 championship, Zach Randolphas – 11 consecutive double-doubles.

The JV, who scored the first four points of the third period at the end of the quarter, did not hide his annoyance after two consecutive fouls against him due to extremely weak contacts with the Lakers’ tall players in the fight for rebounds.

The Lithuanian, who sought to draw the attention of the referees to the identical and sometimes much more aggressive actions of the opponents with shouts, lowered his hands early in the last quarter, when he was called for the fourth personal foul for contact with Montrezl Harrell. Ironically, laughing and returning to defense, Valančiūnas no longer bothered with the referees’ comments for the rest of the match.

In the first half, the Lakers managed to gain a 9-point lead in the changing game, which after a while the Grizzlies not only weighed again, but also turned into their 12-point lead at the end of the quarter.

Point to point with guests led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Grizzles no longer kept up with the pace dictated by their opponents in the second half of the fourth half. Inspired by Wesley Matthews’ long-range shots and James’ two-shot, the Lakers parted ways, and LeBron’s 3-pointer with Valančiūnas’ hands, which increased the difference to 11 points in two and a half minutes, established the victory. in Memphis.

The Memphis team played injury-free against Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson, Justise Winslow, Grayson Allen, Killian Tillie and Jontay Porter in this match.

“Grizzlies”: Kyle Anderson 18 (1/8 trit.), Jonas Valančiūnas and Tyus Jones 14 points each, Desmond Bane 13 points.


“Lakers”: LeBron James 22 (6/10 diat., 3/6 trit., 13 sec. Cam., 8 res.), Anthony Davis 17 (9 cha.), Montrezl Harrellas 16 (9 cha.), Wesley Matthews 14 (4 / 6 trit.), Kyle Kuzma and Dennis Schroder 11 points each.

LEBRON LOGO. CASH 💰 pic.twitter.com/eDSByF247K

– Bleach Report (@BleacherReport) January 4, 2021

After the game, the Los Angeles basketball players will stay in Memphis, where the Grizzlies and Lakers will face a second confrontation. The meeting will start Tuesday to Wednesday night at 3 pm Lithuanian time.