Why Lakers locked back in on Deandre Ayton in win against Grizzlies

p]:text-cms-story-body-color-text Clearfix”>

It's no coincidence that the Lakers' first game went to Deandre Ayton. Or that the star big man took the first shot from the third. Or that his teammates fed him back-to-back dunks to help spark a streak of five straight scoring possessions early in the second half.

After Ayton got the win last Friday off the bench, the 7-foot center bounced back with 15 points and eight rebounds against the Grizzlies on Sunday when the Lakers decided to use the big man early.

Ayton scored just four points with six rebounds in Friday's win and watched a tense fourth quarter from the bench because, as coach said JJ Redick said backup Jackson Hayes “played better.” Redick said Saturday that Ayton was “frustrated” that he wasn't getting more of the ball in recent games, and his frustration showed on the court.

“It's a story as old as time for the big guy,” Redick said after Sunday's game. “That's the reality of being a big player: Someone has to get you the ball. You don't initiate the offense.”

Redick said the team identified moments where teammates could have done a better job finding the former No. 1 overall pick. There were other times when Ayton could have been more active on his own. Redick said he most wanted to see Ayton active, engaged and assertive in the game.

Ayton responded by making six of his eight shots Sunday and helping the team focus on defense in the fourth. The Lakers came back from an 11-point deficit late in the third quarter and held the Grizzlies (15-19) to just 16 points in the first 10 minutes of the fourth quarter. Ayton had two blocks in the fourth quarter.

“We're winning the right way,” Ayton said. “Big people can't feed themselves, and I'm just trying to do my best to put in the effort. And I trust that my playmakers will find me.”

The Lakers committed 30 assists on 38 shots, their highest effective field goal percentage of the season.