On April 22, 2023, the Memphis Grizzlies faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series. The game was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

The game was highly competitive, with both teams battling for every possession. However, with 7:36 left in the third quarter, the game took a dramatic turn when Grizzlies’ shooting guard Dillon Brooks was ejected for hitting Lakers’ superstar LeBron James in the groin.

The incident occurred as James was driving to the basket, and Brooks appeared to hit him in the groin area with his fist. The referees immediately called a flagrant foul 2, which resulted in Brooks’ ejection from the game.

The Lakers were leading at the time of the incident, and the ejection of Brooks only added to their momentum. They went on to win the game 115-98, taking a 2-1 lead in the series.

After the game, both coaches and players were asked about the incident. Lakers’ head coach Frank Vogel praised his team for staying focused and not letting the incident distract them from their game plan.

“I thought our guys did a great job of keeping their composure and not getting caught up in the emotions of the moment,” Vogel said. “We stayed focused and executed our game plan, and that’s what allowed us to come away with the win.”

Grizzlies’ head coach Taylor Jenkins, on the other hand, expressed disappointment in Brooks’ actions.

“That’s not the kind of basketball we want to play,” Jenkins said. “We need to play with more discipline and respect for our opponents. Dillon knows that, and I’m sure he’s disappointed in himself.“

Brooks, for his part, apologized for his actions after the game.

“I let my emotions get the best of me,” Brooks said. “That’s not who I am as a player, and I want to apologize to LeBron and the Lakers organization for my actions. I know I let my team down, and I’ll do everything I can to make it up to them.“

The incident is sure to be closely scrutinized by the league office, and it remains to be seen whether Brooks will face any further disciplinary action. However, the Grizzlies will have to regroup quickly if they hope to even the series in Game 4, which will be held on April 25 at the Staples Center.

The Grizzlies will also have to deal with the loss of Brooks, who is a key player for their team. Brooks averaged 17.2 points per game during the regular season, and his absence will be felt on both ends of the court.

The Lakers, meanwhile, will look to build on their Game 3 win and take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series. James finished the game with 27 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists, while Anthony Davis added 22 points and 11 rebounds.

The Lakers’ bench also played a key role in the win, with Kent Bazemore scoring 12 points and Rajon Rondo dishing out 10 assists.

Overall, the incident involving Brooks and James was an unfortunate moment in an otherwise competitive and exciting game. Both teams will now have to focus on Game 4 and the rest of the series, as they look to advance to the second round of the playoffs.