Five takeaways from the Lakers’ loss to the Memphis Grizzlies

The Lakers (10-23) let the lead slip away but fought to the end before falling to the Memphis Grizzlies (24-8). Here are five takeaways from their 109-106 loss Friday at Staples Center.

1. Ed Davis did not have much trouble with his new mask, needed since breaking his nose in the final minutes on Tuesday when the Lakers defeated the Denver Nuggets. He scored a season-high 20 points on seven-of-eight shooting, including three crucial scores in a row for the Lakers that kept them alive late. Davis made six of eight free throws -- though the last miss might have changed the game’s outcome.

2. On Davis’ missed free throw that would have tied the score late, Bryant was supportive, “I don’t know if he’s ever been in that position before. You don’t know emotionally what that feels like until you go through it.”

3. Bryant isn’t enjoying losing, but he’s not seething after every loss. Instead, he’s trying to be patient with his team that is primarily full of younger players.

“It’s youth. It’s experience. We have to go through it,” said Bryant after the game. “We have to learn how to handle those situations, and clock management and all that stuff. It’s just experience.”

4. The Lakers made two more field goals than the Grizzlies (43 to 41). Both teams had six three-pointers. The difference was at the free-throw line, where the Grizzlies took 12 more attempts (31 to 19), making 21 to the Lakers’ 14. Jordan Hill and Carlos Boozer both fouled out. The Lakers were rung up for 28 fouls to just 15 called against the Grizzlies.

5. Pau Gasol won two titles with the Lakers. Bryant spent years playing alongside him, and would love to play with the Spaniard’s brother Marc Gasol, a free agent in July, who Bryant said has a very similar game to his sibling.

“One’s just wider, more of a power player. They just literally do the same thing,” said Bryant. “[Marc Gasol is] so strong, he can get to his right hand no matter. He’ll just run through you. Pau has to use a little more finesse. They’re both ridiculous.”

Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.