MEMPHIS, Tenn. —
On one end, you had the Lakers fumbling their way through the game like someone waking up in a strange, dark room with no idea how to flip on the lights.
And on the other end, you had the team the Lakers battled in the first round of the playoffs — all in their street clothes watching a collection of young players, others on 10-day contracts and G Leaguers threaten any shot the Lakers have to move up from 10th place in the Western Conference standings.
In all the combinations and permutations that would decide the Lakers’ play-in future, Friday night in Memphis was the gimme.