LaRavia sets the tone in starting lineup

This is what the Lakers imagined when they nearly broke the NBA with the trade that brought Luka Doncic to L.A.

- BY THỤC NHI NGUYEN

Photographs by GINA FERAZZI Los Angeles Times

LEBRON JAMES and the Lakers ran into some familiar problems against Ja Morant and the Grizzlies on Friday but overcame them.

Doncic and LeBron James both scored 30 or more points in a game for just the third time as teammates Friday to help the Lakers hold off the Memphis Grizzlies 128-121 at Crypto.com Arena. Doncic led the way with 34 points, using 17-for-20 shooting from the free-throw line to maintain his NBA-leading scoring average, while James had 31 points on 12-for-18 shooting with nine rebounds and six assists.

The Lakers (21-11) needed 41-year-old James to be at his best. They squandered 13and 15-point leads in the first and second quarters, respectively, but pieced together a timely 12-2 run in the fourth to improve their record in clutch games to 11-0.

"It felt like nearly every time we needed a bucket, he just kind of willed [it]," coach JJ Redick said of James, "whether it was driving the basketball, getting to the paint, getting to 2 feet, and he was just phenomenal tonight."

Here are three takeaways from the win:

LaRavia stars in his starting role

James and Doncic led the way, but another player set the strongest tone for the night.

“Obviously it started with Jake,” James said.

Jake LaRavia, in the starting lineup for the injured Rui Hachimura (calf), delivered the necessary spark of energy on defense while also getting his shot going early to add a scoring punch. LaRavia scored 21 points, hitting three of six three-point attempts, with nine rebounds, two steals and a block.