Luka Doncic returned after a three-game injury absence to lead the visiting Los Angeles Lakers to a 117-112 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies Friday during the first night of NBA Cup play.

Doncic finished with 44 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in 39 minutes. Austin Reaves added 21 for the Lakers. Deandre Ayton had nine points in 17 first-half minutes for the Lakers, but did not return.

For the Grizzlies, Jock Landale and Jaylen Wells had 16 points each, Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 15 and rookie Cedric Coward added 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Ja Morant struggled from the outset and finished with only eight points on 3-of-14 shooting for the Grizzlies. He did not score in the second half. Morant was 0-for-6 from long range to continue his early-season shooting slump. He is 5-of-32 from

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