The Lakers suffered their 10th loss in 13 games against the Memphis Grizzlies, and LeBron James said bluntly after the game, "We're in a bad place right now. Anthony Davis scored 31 points and Austin Reeves had a double-double, but neither could save the Lakers from a 0-2 loss in a crucial home game.

The Lakers are feeling the pressure despite head coach Darwin Ham's attempts to remain optimistic. James dismissed comparisons to their win in the Las Vegas tournament, saying it was "just two games," while Davis urged the team to stick together and reject the noise.

On the other hand, Memphis took advantage of the Lakers' woes. Jaren Jackson Jr. hit five 3-pointers and scored 31 points to go along with Marcus Smart's hot play (eight 3-pointers, 29 points) to lead the Grizzlies to their second win in six games. Desmond Bane and Ja Morant scored 24 and 21 points, respectively, as Memphis made 23 3-pointers against the league's worst 3-point defence.

The Grizzlies haven't won at the Dome in over a year, and they enjoyed the win immensely." Ja Morant emphasised the importance of the win.

Adding to the Lakers' woes, injuries continue to affect their roster. D'Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura were out, LeBron James made costly turnovers and missed key free throws. Even Grizzlies coach Tyler Jenkins received a technical foul for roughing up an opponent on the court.

The Lakers faced an uphill battle. Their home-court advantage was gone, the pressure was mounting by the day, and doubts were creeping in. Will they be able to get out of the vortex, or will they continue to suffer? Only time will tell.