Pau Gasol has a solid game in Memphis

Reporting from Memphis, Tenn. — 

Pau Gasol returned again to Tennessee’s largest city, the scene of so many images from his past.

Some of them haven’t been pretty -- booing from fans a few years ago after he requested a trade from the Memphis Grizzlies, a 10-point effort in a loss here three weeks ago with the Lakers -- but he’ll want to remember Tuesday’s game.

Gasol clearly outplayed his younger brother, Marc, and provided solid defense on the game’s final play, getting a hand in the face of O.J. Mayo as the Grizzlies’ guard shot long on a 20-footer as time expired.

Gasol had 22 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in the Lakers’ 99-98 victory. Marc Gasol had eight points, 11 rebounds and no assists.

“What I wanted to do is just contribute to help my team to win, just like what I usually try to do . . . but especially here,” the elder Gasol said. “I felt really bad when we lost last time. I’m glad that we got a nice win tonight.”

Gasol had only 10 points in the Lakers’ 95-93 loss on Feb. 1 and also said his teammates didn’t look inside enough.

He had no such criticism after their victory Tuesday.

“A lot better tonight,” he said. “I think our balance was good.”

Gasol typically underperforms in Memphis, Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said before the game.

“I think it really has affected him coming back and playing [here],” Jackson said. “Maybe it’s playing against his brother. He hears kind of the rabble out there in the crowd. He hasn’t played as well as he plays for us in a normal situation.”

After the game, Jackson was pleased with Gasol, saying he “played well enough for us to win.”

The Cleveland race

With the Lakers comfortably ahead in the Western Conference, only one race matters the rest of the regular season.

The Lakers (43-14) are half a game behind the Cleveland Cavaliers (44-14) for the best record in the league and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

Cleveland holds the tiebreaker because of a two-game sweep of the Lakers, but the Lakers are sensing a battle down to the final week of the regular season.

“I don’t see us blistering through the rest of the season and losing one or two games,” Jackson said. “I don’t see them doing the same thing and losing one or two games.

“We have a harder schedule, I think, than they do right now simply because of conference play.”

It’s a debatable point.

Among the Lakers’ notable games remaining are two against Denver, two against San Antonio and one each against Dallas, Orlando, Atlanta and Utah.

Among the Cavaliers’ notable games are three against Boston, two against San Antonio, two against Atlanta and one against Orlando.

It’s not quite March, but it’s not too early to plan ahead.

“It’s not a worry, [but] it’s got to be more of a goal and a focus,” Gasol said. “Every game makes a difference.”

The Lakers are 5 1/2 games ahead of Denver in the West.

mike.bresnahan

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