Memphis Grizzlies vs Los Angeles Lakers Picks and Predictions March 29th 2025

In Wake of Coach’s Firing, Grizzlies Turn to Face Lakers

With the postseason rapidly approaching, the Memphis Grizzlies made a bold move—parting ways with head coach Taylor Jenkins just nine games before the end of the regular season. The surprising shake-up comes at a critical moment, as Memphis prepares to host the Los Angeles Lakers in a pivotal Western Conference showdown on Saturday night.

Memphis (44-29) is currently tied with the Lakers for fourth place in the West but has been sliding lately, losing four of its last five games and five of seven overall. The decision to fire Jenkins followed Thursday’s 125-104 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, a game where the Grizzlies collapsed in the fourth quarter, getting outscored 34-15.

“I loved the fight from my group,” Jenkins said after what would be his final game at the helm. “Obviously the fourth quarter will be everyone’s natural takeaway, but what we did for the first three and change was awesome. Overall it was encouraging, especially at the tail end of a long road trip.”

Despite his optimism, reports surfaced that Jenkins had “lost the locker room,” prompting the front office to act. Memphis will now reportedly turn to assistant Tuomas Iisalo to serve as interim head coach during the season’s final stretch.

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The Grizzlies are also dealing with uncertainty surrounding their star guard Ja Morant, who remains questionable with a left hamstring strain. Morant has only played 43 games this season and has been a critical piece when healthy, averaging 22.3 points and 7.4 assists. In his absence, Jaren Jackson Jr. has stepped up, averaging 22.4 points per game and becoming the focal point of the offense.

Lakers Aim to Rebound After Gut-Wrenching Loss

The Lakers (44-29) have had a wild week of basketball, with consecutive games decided by last-second shots—one in their favor, and one not.

On Wednesday, LeBron James delivered a game-winning putback to lift L.A. over Indiana. But on Thursday, heartbreak struck as Chicago’s Josh Giddey nailed a halfcourt buzzer-beater to hand the Lakers a 119-117 defeat, their fourth loss in five games.

“Devastation. It’s a hell of a way to lose a basketball game,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick said. “We’re not in a position to feel sorry for ourselves.”

Still, there have been bright spots. Austin Reaves continues to break out, averaging a career-high 19.9 points and 5.9 assists this season. In March alone, he’s putting up over 23 points per game. Meanwhile, Luka Doncic has contributed consistently with 27.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game in his 20 games with L.A., while LeBron James is near triple-double territory every night with 24.5 points, 8.5 assists, and 8.2 rebounds.

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Saturday’s meeting will be the fourth and final matchup between these two squads this season, with Memphis having dropped two of the first three.

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High Stakes, Even Higher Pressure

With both teams tied in the standings and desperate to avoid the play-in tournament, this clash could have major postseason implications. Memphis is navigating a coaching transition and injuries, while Los Angeles is trying to find rhythm and consistency in the season’s final stretch.

If you’re sizing up NBA predictions or evaluating tonight’s matchup for betting opportunities, both teams offer intriguing narratives and statistical trends. Dive into the latest NBA picks for a sharper edge on where the value lies.