Oh, hey, guess who is suddenly in the play-in picture?!

It was not a pretty game, to be honest. But pretty or ugly, the Lakers got the job done by taking care of business against the Memphis Grizzlies, 112-103. On Pau Gasol retirement night!

Neither team could break away all game. But then early in the fourth quarter, the bears from Memphis took a 94-88 lead. They actually looked poised to run away and take the game.

Then Anthony Davis took over. He got Jaren Jackson, Jr. in foul trouble. And then he scored five straight points to get the Lakers within one. While Tyus Jones did his best to keep the lead on the Grizzlies, AD’s board work and Rui Hachimura’s timely buckets gave Los Angeles the lead for good. A nice crossover and bank shot by Austin Reaves kept the momentum going. Finally, Troy Brown Jr. made a clutch three to put the Lakers up 7 with 70 seconds left. Davis would finish it with a tip and the Lakers won a very crucial contest.

With Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke missing, the Grizzlies have had trouble rebounding. The Lakers (especially Davis) took advantage and attacked the glass all game. L.A. had a 57-45 rebound advantage. The Lakers were terrifying in turning the ball often early but they settled down just enough to have only 13 in the game (the Grizz had 7). Memphis really missed Ja Morant’s energy and scoring. It was felt even more when Desmond Bane, their second scorer, could not get it going all night.

The Lakers got yet another huge game from Davis; he had 30 points and 22 rebounds (his first 30-20 game since November 22 against Phoenix). I guess it’s safe to say that his MVP self is back. Three players (Dennis Schröder, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura) scored 17 points each; they were all on the floor helping to close the game out. The other player that closed was Troy Brown, Jr. He scored 13 points and he had that big three-pointer that essentially put the game away. I said in the preview that Davis can’t do this all by himself. It was definitely a team effort and it won them the game.

Memphis was led by Jaren Jackson, Jr. with 26 points and 8 boards. Tyus Jones was steady with 16 points. Dillon Brooks (5 for 17, 13 points) and Desmond Bane (3 for 14, 7 points) did not shoot well and the Grizz really needed their production with key guys out. Xavier Tillman had a double-double (take me to In-N-Out) with 11 points and 10 boards.

I’m not going to finish this recap without mentioning Pau Gasol’s retirement ceremony. In his 6 1/2 years with the Lakers, he made a huge impact and helped restore glory to the Laker franchise more than a decade ago. It was a game-changer for the Lakers; Andrew Bynum just went down with a knee injury and they needed a replacement big to help keep it going. It almost seemed like a lopsided trade as the Grizzlies traded Pau for bench players (that included Kwame Brown as the so-called centerpiece), some draft picks, and the draft rights to Pau’s little brother, Marc (who turned out to be a very good player in his own right and helped Memphis become a powerhouse in the West). And from there, Kobe Bryant and Pau led the Lakers to three straight NBA Finals appearances. We all remember them losing in 2008 but they roared back and won in 2009 and 2010. Pau Gasol had a devastating clutch jumper in Game 7 of the 2010 Finals and he was able to shut up the critics for being “too soft.”

He’s a Hall of Fame finalist and I have no doubt he’ll make it there. Though Pau’s stint as a Laker there was shorter than most of the retired jerseys, his play and impact were undeniable. Even Kobe said it; the Lakers wouldn’t win those championships without Pau Gasol. Pau deserves this honor. Pau deserves the world.

As for the Lakers, they’re at 32-34. With the Jazz losing, they are now in sole possession of the 9th seed. The Lakers have come so far since the first week, haven’t they? Also, they tied their high water mark at being two games under .500 (they’ve been here before several times this season). Maybe on Friday, they can go further. And if things go well on Friday and Sunday, they could be at .500. What a climb it has been.

For now, take this win and rest up. Then they’re back at it against the Raptors on Friday.

Congratulations, Pau Gasol. And thank you.