Lakers forward Anthony Davis reacts to a referee’s call during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Lakers forward LeBron James considers his options as Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks defends during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. grabs a rebound next to Lakers forwards LeBron James, center, and Anthony Davis during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis dunks during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant shoots as Lakers forward LeBron James defends during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell, right, shouts to teammates as Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks defends during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Luke Kennard looks to pass as Lakers forward Troy Brown Jr. defends during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis handles the ball during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant shoots as Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell defends during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis grabs a rebound next to Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr., left, during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant drives past Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. shoots as Lakers forwards Wenyen Gabriel, left, and Troy Brown Jr. defend during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Lakers forward LeBron James gets in a defensive stance during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane shoots as Lakers forwards Troy Brown Jr. (7) and LeBron James, left, defend during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, right, drives against Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt, center, as Grizzlies forward Xavier Tillman watches during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant dunks in front of Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis looks on during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane is defended by Lakers guard Austin Reaves, left, during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Lakers forward LeBron James waits to receive the ball during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Xavier Tillman works between Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell, left, and forward LeBron James during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt shoots in front of Memphis Grizzlies forward Xavier Tillman during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Lakers forward LeBron James shoots over Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (22) during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, right, shoots over Lakers forward Anthony Davis, center, during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant celebrates a basket in front of Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. The Grizzlies won, 116-99, to avoid elimination and send the series back to L.A. for a Game 6 on Friday night. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell, left, is defended by Memphis Grizzlies Xavier Tillman (2) and Ja Morant, right, during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis lines up a shot during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant reacts during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Lakers on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves drives against Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane, left, during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Xavier Tillman, left, Lakers forward Anthony Davis, center, and Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr., second from right, and guard Desmond Bane (22) reach for the ball during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant keeps the ball from Lakers guard Austin Reaves during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Lakers forward LeBron James bumps against a referee during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
A fan holds a sign that reads “Lakers Cry Count” during the second half of Game 5 of the first-round playoff series between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Lakers on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant reaches for the ball during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Lakers on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Lakers forward LeBron James gestures during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves drives against Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, who reaches for the ball during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane shoots during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Lakers on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis shoots next to Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane, right, during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant holds the ball during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Lakers on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant shoots around Lakers forward LeBron James, left, during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Lakers forward LeBron James reacts during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane shoots during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Lakers on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura shoots as Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. defends during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. gestures after scoring during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Lakers on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies guards Desmond Bane, left, and Ja Morant laugh on the bench during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Lakers on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies guards Desmond Bane, left, and Ja Morant joke on the bench during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Lakers on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. celebrates during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Lakers on Wednesday night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — LeBron James locked eyes with Lakers coach Darvin Ham with 4 minutes, 40 seconds remaining in what would become a 116-99 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at FedEx Forum. They had a non-verbal discussion, as Ham later put it.
It was time.
Not closing time.
But time to rest, to recover for Game 6 on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena.
The Lakers lead the best-of-7 series, three games to two.
If necessary, Game 7 will be Sunday back in Memphis.
“Tonight, I was (expletive),” James said. “I’ll be better in Game 6.”
James and Anthony Davis have been very much like ships passing in the night during the first five games of the series. They haven’t been productive together in the same game yet, with James dipping and Davis soaring in Game 5 after it was the opposite in the Lakers’ victory in Game 4.
James scored 15 points on 5-for-17 shooting with 10 rebounds, five assists and five turnovers in 37 minutes before retiring to the bench with the Lakers trailing 106-92. Davis led the Lakers with 31 points on 14-for-23 shooting and a playoff career-high 19 rebounds in a little more than 35 minutes.
“We just haven’t put two performances together,” James said. “We still put three team efforts together to be up 3-2, and that’s what’s important. It doesn’t matter what A.D. and I are doing, it’s about winning basketball games.”
The Lakers were within 75-74 after James went on a personal 5-0 run that included two free throws with 4:36 left in the third quarter. But, instead of folding, the Grizzlies surged with a 19-2 run to end the third that they would extend to 26-2 by the opening minutes of the fourth.
Desmond Bane and Ja Morant ensured the Grizzlies would live to play another day, shredding the Lakers’ defense with a mix of drives to the basket and perimeter shots. Bane led the Grizzlies with 33 points and Morant had 31, and the Lakers had no answer for either of them.
“We’ll go back to the drawing board and look at the film and see what we come up with and, again, the biggest part of it is to be ready to come out Friday like gangbusters and compete for 48 minutes or however long it takes,” Ham said of the Lakers’ plans for Game 6.
Ham acknowledged facing a difficult decision as to when to pull the plug on Game 5 in order to rest James, Davis and his other starters. Down by 24 points with more than eight minutes still to be played, Ham chose to stick with his starters and see if they could make a run.
“It’s tough, man, because you’re competitive, you feel like in today’s basketball – 3-point shot – you can chew up a deficit really quick,” Ham said. “We gave up a 14-1 run in the first half in the last game, so it just goes to show you. It’s a great conundrum. Do you compete harder?
“Hopefully, some shots go in, you get to the free-throw line. Or do you take that time and try to soak up some minutes with those guys getting ice on them or whatever? It’s playoff basketball and everyone’s in a competitive mode, and we decided to leave our guys out there.”
Asked about his level of fatigue, James said simply, “I’m good.”
Davis said he was prepared to “play all 48” in Game 6, if necessary.
“It’s what you prepare an entire season for,” Davis said.
The Lakers fell behind by as many as 17 points in the first half, which had more to do with the Grizzlies’ sense of desperation than anything else. Pushed to the brink of elimination after the Lakers’ overtime victory Monday in Game 4, the Grizzlies fought back to start Game 5.
Memphis could do nothing to stop Davis in the early going, but the Lakers didn’t have a consistent second or third offensive option. James missed seven of his first nine shots and had five turnovers in a first half that was every bit as forgettable as his Game 4 play was memorable.
Davis had a double-double by halftime, with 18 points on 8-for-13 shooting plus 10 rebounds. His teammates combined to shoot 13 of 31 (41.9%) in the first half. Austin Reaves, who had 10 points on 3-for-6 shooting, was the only other Lakers player with 10 or more points in the half. He finished with 17.
“Close-out games are tough,” Davis said. “The other team is going to come out with a sense of desperation. It was on their home floor. The crowd was into it. They got hot in the first quarter, making shots. Desmond Bane got hot and the crowd’s energy fed the other guys and they made plays and made shots.”
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