Lakers get inspired, defeat the Memphis Grizzlies, 107-100

Maybe the presence of Adam Silver was all the Lakers needed for inspiration.

That and a severely undermanned Memphis team.

The Lakers actually won a game, and how often had that been written this season? They beat the Grizzlies, 107-100, Tuesday at Staples Center, as Kobe Bryant returned from a two-game absence and Jordan Clarkson broke out of a four-game slump.

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If there was an unhappy asterisk, it was D’Angelo Russell leaving the game in the third quarter because of a bruised left shin.

It was from a second-quarter collision with Memphis forward JaMychal Green and wasn’t considered overly serious.

“Hopefully it doesn’t swell up big-time and we’ll see how he feels [Wednesday],” Lakers Coach Byron Scott said. Russell had 11 points and was listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game in Phoenix.

Silver, the NBA commissioner, was there in person, in town to announce the return of the All-Star game to Staples Center in 2018.

He was told the Lakers had never missed playoffs three consecutive years until now. He was then asked how important it was for them to be a factor in the NBA world.

After all, Silver’s predecessor, David Stern, once said his ideal NBA Finals would pit “the Lakers vs. the Lakers.”

Silver didn’t seem worried, at least outwardly.

“No team has been as successful as the Lakers in modern sports history in any league,” he said. “I have complete confidence in Jeanie Buss as the governor of the team and how she manages it. There is the ebb and flow of every team, and I know they will return to being a competitive team.”

The Lakers (15-55) had flow for most of Tuesday’s game. There was very little ebb.

Clarkson had 22 points on eight-for-13 accuracy, ending a four-game skid in which he shot 26%. Julius Randle had 13 points, 14 rebounds and five assists.

Bryant was not sharp early, missing his first five shots and having a no-look drop-off pass intercepted by Tony Allen, but the third quarter brought a now-familiar fadeaway from the post against former teammate Matt Barnes.

He finished with 20 points on seven-for-18 shooting in 30 minutes.

Bryant, 37, has been bothered by a sore right shoulder but said it felt “great” after he went nine days between games.

“I didn’t have any aches and pains. I was able to move pretty freely. I hadn’t ran or shot the ball since the last time we played.”

He added he would “absolutely” play Wednesday.

There was one throwback to the good old days, or at least the old days, when Metta World Peace was ejected in the fourth quarter.

He appeared to slip with the ball and was tied up by Vince Carter for a jump ball. This did not sit well with World Peace, who picked up the technicals within a few seconds of each other for arguing the non-call.

Allen, known much more for his defense, scored 27 points on 12-for-12 shooting for Memphis (41-31), which had won nine in a row against the Lakers but was without injured starters Marc Gasol and Mike Conley.

Unlike the last few Lakers opponents, Memphis was in the thick of a playoff race and was trying to stay close to the Clippers for the fourth spot in the Western Conference.

Unlike the rest of the season, the Lakers didn’t lose.

Follow Mike Bresnahan on Facebook and Twitter @Mike_Bresnahan