The playoffs are a nervous time for fans, and certainly tension was higher for after the Lakers were badly beaten on Wednesday in Memphis in Game 5. It put a ton of pressure on Friday's Game 6, because nobody connected to the Lakers, fan or player, wanted to go back to Memphis for Game 7.

Well, they won't have to.

The Lakers absolutely destroyed the Grizzlies in front of the home crowd, winning 125-85 behind huge games from D'Angelo Russell (12-17 shooting, 5-9 from 3, 31 points) and LeBron James (22 points on 13 shots). But the most dominant player on the floor for LA was Anthony Davis. He was strong offensively, with 16 points (6-9 shooting). He owned the glass (14 rebounds). He ruled the paint (five blocks, and a seemingly infinite number of altered shots). He was the catalyst of the strongest defensive performance the Lakers have turned in this season. (All of the starters got to sit through the fourth, as well.)

Memphis needed half of the third quarter just to reach 50 points. A suffocating team defense shut down the paint, made the Grizzlies uncomfortable on the perimeter, and forced turnovers.

Darvin Ham tightened the rotation as the Lakers clearly went all in on Game 6, and it paid big dividends. Particularly with the Sacramento Kings beating Golden State in San Francisco, forcing a Game 7 in that series and meaning the Lakers will get a few extra days off before the second round begins Tuesday somewhere in northern California.

It was a spectacular night for the Lakers, and Lakers fans, at the Crypt as the Lakers won their first playoff series since the title run.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

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