Reaves, Doncic lead Lakers to 134-127 victory over Grizzlies, spoiling Iisalo's debut

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Austin Reaves had 31 points and eight assists, Luka Doncic added 29 points and nine assists and the Los Angeles Lakers held on for a 134-127 win over Memphis on Saturday night in the Grizzlies' first game under interim coach Tuomas Iisalo.

LeBron James scored 25 points as the Lakers led by 20 points in the first half, but squandered the advantage to make it a close game in the fourth quarter.

Desmond Bane led Memphis with 29 points, while Jaren Jackson Jr. added 24 points. Ja Morant finished with 22 points and 10 assists.

Iisalo took over Friday night hours after Memphis fired Taylor Jenkins, the winningest coach in franchise history, with nine games left in the regular season.

Lakers: While the Lakers had played well in their previous 36 games, they came in losers of four of their last five, including a last-second loss at Chicago on Thursday night. The game was close but did not have the late drama.

Grizzlies: Memphis went 1-4 on a five-game road trip coming back home still reeling after the first of three games in four nights.

The teams exchanged the lead through the middle part of the fourth quarter when Doncic entered with about eight minutes left. After four straight points from Doncic and a 3-pointer from Dorian Finney-Smith, the Lakers had retaken the lead.

Midway throught the second quarter, the Lakers had made a dozen 3-pointers and were shooting at 55% as they built the lead to 20 before Memphis cut into the advantage to trail 72-61 at halftime. The Lakers ended up making 19 3-pointers, one short of their season-high.

Both teams play at home Monday night, the Lakers entertaining the Rockets, and the Grizzlies playing host to Boston.

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Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) grabs the ball over Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) handles the ball ahead of Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) handles the ball against Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (11) and Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) struggle for control of the ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) struggles to control the ball between Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and guard Luka Doncic (77) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (22) handles the ball ahead of Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) shoots against Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Memphis Grizzlies interim head coach Tuomas Iisalo calls to players the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Republicans Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine won special elections Tuesday in two Florida congressional districts, bolstered by President Donald Trump’s endorsement to fill vacant seats in reliably Republican strongholds.

Patronis, the state’s chief financial officer, fended off a challenge from Democrat Gay Valimont even though she far outraised and outspent him. He will fill the northwest Florida 1st District seat vacated by former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who was chosen to be Trump’s attorney general but withdrew from consideration amid allegations of sexual misconduct, which he has denied.

In north Florida's 6th District, Fine won against Democratic challenger Josh Weil for a seat vacated by Mike Waltz when he was tapped to become Trump’s national security adviser.

The win bolsters Republicans’ margin of 220-213 in the House of Representatives.

Special elections are often low-turnout events that can lead to surprising results. While GOP wins were widely expected in both districts — two of the most heavily Republican in the country — it’s notable that Democrats narrowed the margins considerably from November.

The races were among the first electoral tests of Trump’s new administration. The narrowing margins may signal a shift in public sentiment, driven by unusually strong Democratic enthusiasm as the party poured millions into the races. Democrats hoped that backlash to the president’s overhaul of federal agencies and firing of federal workers would carve into the GOP’s margins at the polls.

Trump congratulated both candidates late Tuesday and said his endorsement helped them secure a victory.

“THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT, AS ALWAYS, PROVED FAR GREATER THAN THE DEMOCRATS FORCES OF EVIL. CONGRATULATIONS TO AMERICA!” he said on his Truth Social platform.

The mood was celebratory at a waterfront restaurant in Pensacola, where congratulatory text messages were already lighting up Patronis’ phone as early results were posted Tuesday night. Patronis worked the crowd of about 100 people shaking hands and giving hugs, his wife Katie and two sons in tow.

Republicans, including Gov. Ron DeSantis, had been saying that Fine’s underperformance should not be taken as a referendum on Trump, calling it a candidate-specific issue. However, early returns in the other district were showing that Patronis was also failing to match the large margins from November.

Fine, a self-described “conservative firebrand,” had faced growing pressure during the race’s final days as some Republicans publicly criticized his campaign and fundraising efforts, questioning whether this race would embarrass Republicans less than 100 days into Trump’s administration. Weil’s campaign raised an eye-popping $9 million compared to Fine’s $1 million.

National Democratic leaders have attributed Weil’s fundraising success to what they characterized as widespread outrage against Trump. That outrage failed to materialize in large enough numbers to overturn the outcome, foiling Democrats’ hope to pull off a huge upset that would have buoyed their party.

Fine was first elected to the Florida House in 2016 and ran each year as a representative until 2024 when he successfully won his election to the Florida Senate. He is known for his support of Israel and his efforts to restrict LGBTQ+ rights.

Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Republican Jimmy Patronis looks at his phone during an election night watch party while awaiting election results Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Pensacola, Fla. (AP Photo/Kate Payne)

Republican Jimmy Patronis is congratulated during an election night watch party Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Pensacola, Fla. (AP Photo/Kate Payne)

Josh Weil talks to a group of supporters during a Get Out the Vote event in Ocala, Fla., Monday, March 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephany Matat)