Kamala Harris rallies as high court eyes abortion pill rules

• April 16, 2023

By Bobby Caina Calvan and Stefanie Dazio | Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday urged Americans to take action during “a critical point in our nation’s history” as thousands of protesters demonstrated across the country against new limits to abortion rights making their way through the courts.

Saturday’s nationwide rallies were sparked by the U.S. Supreme Court’s actions the day before, when the high court intervened to delay rule changes that would have limited the way the abortion drug mifepristone could be used and dispensed. The limits were paused while the court reviews the case more thoroughly.

Harris made a surprise stop in Los Angeles at one of the rallies, where she called the latest upheaval over abortion rights a further incursion by conservatives into myriad “fundamental rights” many Americans thought they had.

“And so this is a moment that history will show required each of us — based on our collective love of our country — to stand up, and fight for, and protect our ideals. That’s what this moment is,” she said Saturday, speaking to several hundred demonstrators from the steps of City Hall. “When you attack the rights of women in America, you are attacking America.”

Some of the protesters voiced their anger at the steps of the nation’s high court, which took Friday’s action at the request of the federal Justice Department. The agency asked the high court to lift restrictions on mifepristone imposed by an appellate court in Texas earlier in the week. The decision by the appellate court reduced the window of time when the drug could be used and prevented the drug from being dispensed by mail.

Critics of the Texas and appellate court decisions, including pharmaceutical companies, viewed the courts’ actions as a dangerous intrusion into the authority of the FDA, which regulates how medications are sold and used in the United States.

Demonstrators in New York City stood behind a sign with a four-letter expletive directed at Texas, where a federal judge set off the latest salvo in the battle over abortion. They held signs urging the government to defend medication abortions.

But the crowd was modest, attracting a little more than 100 people outside the picturesque public library along Fifth Avenue.

Still, the demonstrators attracted looks from passersby along the busy thoroughfare, some briefly joining the group to lend their voices.

“It can be hard to get people out, because people are being bombarded with all kinds of assaults on their bodies and people are tired and poor,” said Viva Ruiz, who said she helped organize the rally.

“The news cycle is so fast that when one thing happens something terrible happens the next day. So it’s hard to sustain the momentum or the energy for people to be on the streets,” Ruiz said.

With few exceptions, many of the rallies — organized under the banner of a group calling itself “Bigger than Roe” — were held in smaller cities.

Since last year’s reversal of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized the right to an abortion, more than a dozen states have effectively outlawed abortion, while additional states have moved to further tighten abortion laws.

On Thursday, the GOP-dominated Florida Legislature moved to became the latest state to ban abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.

Restrictions on the delivery and use of mifepristone, part of a two-drug regimen to end a pregnancy, would be a further blow to abortion rights advocates. The other drug, misoprostol, can be used on its own, but doing so is less effective than using both drugs in combination.

When mifepristone was initially approved, the FDA limited its use to up to seven weeks of pregnancy. It also required three in-person office visits: the first to administer mifepristone, the next to administer the second drug, misoprostol, and the third to address any complications.

If the appeals court’s action stands, those would again be the terms under which mifepristone could be dispensed.

States that support abortion rights, including California and New York, have begun stockpiling misoprostol to assure their states have adequate supplies. Washington state is among those stockpiling a supply of mifepristone or its generic form. And Massachusetts Democratic Gov. Maura Healey said the administration is dedicating $1 million to help providers contracted with the Department of Public Health buy additional quantities of mifepristone.

More than 5.6 million women in the U.S. had used mifepristone as of June 2022, according to the FDA. In that period, the agency received 4,200 reports of complications in women, or less than one-tenth of 1% of women who took the drug.

Calvan reported from New York.

​ Orange County Register 

Kings’ Drew Doughty gets another shot at playoffs against Edmonton

• April 16, 2023

For the Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, a first-round rematch with Edmonton will offer even more novelty for the team’s second-longest tenured player than it will to his second-year teammates.

Last year, the typically durable Doughty was absent for 43 regular-season contests plus all seven playoff games after missing just 19 matches between 2008 and 2022. As the Kings watched 1-0 and 3-2 series leads dissipate in a set they ultimately lost to the Oilers in seven games, their leader in time on ice could only look on from a bird’s eye view.

“It was like watching your kid play in a game,” Doughty said. “I was worried if anyone was going to make a mistake. I was super intense during the game, I’d be yelling up top if they should have called a penalty. If we scored, I was jumping up and down, I was just super pumped for the guys.”

“I enjoyed watching the boys, but I hated every moment of it at the same time because I wanted to be playing, I knew I could help us out there, and that just makes this year more special for me.”

Kings coach Todd McLellan said what Doughty added to the team was as obvious as it was irreplaceable: a highly decorated player who had won two Stanley Cups and a Norris Trophy and who was capable of playing extended minutes against top players in critical situations, all while offering a unique leadership style.

“He’s more on the loud side of things, talking quite a bit. That’s how he gets ready and that’s how he gets the team ready,” said team captain Anze Kopitar, who with Doughty is the only remaining link to the Kings’ championships from last decade still on the roster.

Doughty brought to the table more than just his voice, which he joked Saturday that he was using to try to negotiate lower cap hits for the two players, Vladislav Gavrikov and Joonas Korpisalo, that the Kings picked up in a trade involving longtime goalie Jonathan Quick.

Doughty’s flair for improvisation, unwavering will to win and indefatigable motor have been staples of his game from Day One, and he’s always relished high-stakes competition. Doughty’s 52 points this season were the most since he scored a career-high 60 in 2017-18, the last campaign that saw Doughty appear in the postseason.

Yet it’ll be Doughty’s defense, along with that of his stalwart partner Mikey Anderson, that will be at the fore against Edmonton. Paired against the league’s best power play and a top line that features Connor McDavid, whose 153 points were the most in a single season in nearly three decades of NHL action, Doughty and Anderson have been as effective as anyone. McDavid and No. 2 scorer Leon Draisaitl combined for seven points in four games against the Kings this year, but slathered on 83 in 44 against the rest of the Pacific Division. The Kings also held Edmonton’s power play scoreless across three meetings and much of a fourth.

“We both get up for the challenge, we’re not scared of the challenge, we’re excited for the opportunity and we basically put the offense on the backburner when we’re out there against [McDavid],” Doughty said.

While two new ingredients to their mix, offseason acquisition Kevin Fiala and center-turned-winger Gabe Vilardi, seem destined to start the series in the press box, defenseman Alex Edler appears probable for the series and Doughty isn’t the only King who will be healthier in 2023 than in 2022.

Winger Viktor Arvidsson, who abruptly left the first practice of last playoffs and didn’t return until October’s season opener because of an injured disk, grinded his way through rehab and was one of the Kings’ more effective forwards this season.

“It’s hard to imagine that this practice, last year, at this time, we lost him. Talk about bad luck for him and for us. We missed him in that series,” McLellan said. “I think his play has just elevated as the year has gone on, he’s continually gotten better.”

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Linemate Phillip Danault praised Arvidsson’s passion and dedication and said their line felt like “something was coming back” in recent matches. Like Doughty, Arvidsson may have missed last year’s series but earned considerable experience earlier in his career, most notably on a run to the 2017 Stanley Cup Final with Nashville.

For Arvidsson, Doughty and every one of their teammates, they’ve made their money over the course of 82 games, but now it’s time to earn it in pursuit of the 16 wins that matter most.

“Being in the stands, seeing the fans go crazy in both arenas and seeing the emotion that all the guys were playing with on the ice just made me that much hungrier,” Doughty said. “I’m just super excited to get it going.”

​ Orange County Register 

Esperanza girls, Foothill boys pace new wave at Foothill Swim Games

• April 16, 2023

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SANTA ANA — The Foothill Swim Games stroked closer to its golden anniversary with a small but grateful group of competitors who took advantage of their chance to race at the tradition-rich event Saturday.

With multiple competing meets on the schedule and schools on spring break, several budding swimmers emerged at the 49th edition of the meet at Foothill High.

Esperanza’s girls and Foothill’s boys — both contenders from the Crestview League — won the team competitions that featured Santa Margarita’s split-squad, Crean Lutheran and Villa Park.

Villa Park junior Allison Mann and Crean Lutheran senior Andrew Teh — training partners with the SOCAL club — earned swimmers of the meet honors after winning a pair of individual events and posting swift leadoff times in the 400-yard freestyle relay.

“It’s a really fun environment,” Mann said the meet, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary next season. “Looking at the meet record times, they’re really fast here, and that just tells you how good this meet normally is.”

No meet records fell Saturday but there were numerous strong efforts.

Mann won two of her lesser-known events — the 200 freestyle (1 minute, 51.88 seconds) and the 100 butterfly (55.71) — and also led off the 400 free relay in 52.37.

Mann, whose specializes in the 50 and 100 free, continues to extend her family’s legacy at Villa Park. Her mother Michelle and sister Jennifer swam at Villa Park, also the alma mater of her father John.

“It’s really fun,” Mann of competing against the times of her mother and sister. “Last year, I ended up on our all-time list (at Villa Park), passing (my Mom) and my sister.”

Santa Margarita’s powerhouse girls had won eight consecutive Foothill Swim Games titles but had swimmers at the California Catholic Challenge in Atherton and the Fran Crippen Memorial Swim Meet of Champions, a top club meet in Mission Viejo.

Esperanza’s Jasmine Liu considered racing at the club meet but opted for the Aztecs and collected a pair of victories. The Minnesota-bound senior won the 200 individual medley in a school-record 2:04.52 and won the 500 free in 5:11.66.

“It was tough deciding (my schedule),” said Liu, who will race at the club meet on Sunday. “This is only meet I’ve done well at all year, including club. I’ve been struggling a little bit but this meet for some reason, something just clicked.

“My mindset changed and I’m really glad.”

Esperanza’s girls swept all three relays and received two victories from junior Gillian Sato (50 free/100 back) and one from Alyssa Dimitriadis (100 free).

“We’re swimming great, feeling great,” Esperanza girls coach Annette Nielsen said. “It’s getting me excited for the league finals and going on to CIF. They’re working extremely hard so they deserve it all.”

Foothill’s boys held off Crean Lutheran for the team title. Junior Troy Lee led the Knights by winning the 100 (48.05) and 200 (1:44.82) freestyles. Sophomore Jaiden Crivello — who played junior varsity water polo in the fall for Foothill  — won the 50 free in 21.98.

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Teh, a senior bound for Cal Baptist, threatened the meet record in the 100 backstroke with a first-place touch of 50.54. He also won the butterfly in season-best 49.61 and ledoff the 400 free relay with a lifetime-best 46.41.

“I’m proud of that one,” Teh said of his relay split. “I left it all in the pool.”

Crean Lutheran’s Tate Fitzgerald, a senior bound for Biola, also doubled with victories in the 200 IM (1:55.94) and 100 breaststroke (57.72).

“I’m looking forward to CIF and state, especially with our team,” he said.

​ Orange County Register 

Newport Beach church vandalized, will require 80k to 100k in repairs, pastor says

• April 16, 2023

A 27-year-old San Dimas man was arrested on suspicion of vandalizing a Newport Beach church in the early hours of Saturday morning, police said.

Rev. Paul Capetz, the senior pastor at Christ Church by the Sea on Balboa Peninsula, said he awoke to a voicemail from Newport Beach police around 3 a.m. Saturday about the vandalism. Newport Beach Police informed him that a man had apparently taken a baseball bat to the church’s stained glass windows and doors, according to Capetz.

“They were very valuable stained glass windows given by members a long time ago in honor of their loved ones,” Capetz said.

The man was arrested on suspicion of felony vandalism and transported into Orange County Jail later Saturday morning, Newport Beach Police Department Sgt. Sabrina Fabbri said. Further details, including his name, were not immediately released.

He is not believed to have had any connection to the church, Capetz said. It was not immediately clear what prompted the vandalism.

Christ Church by the Sea plans to resume worship Sunday morning after more than a dozen volunteers assisted with cleaning up the church Saturday afternoon, Capetz said, describing the vandalism as “traumatic” for the community.

The church’s physical recovery will be costly and likely require between $80,000 and $100,000 in repairs, Capetz said. The church will work to raise money on GoFundMe, he added. For now, the doors and windows will remain boarded up.

“People should know how vulnerable and violated we feel when something like this happens,” Capetz said. “I feel like I was punched in the gut. This is Easter and we are trying to celebrate a joyous message .. it was just a big huge curve ball today.”

​ Orange County Register 

Grand Prix of Long Beach: Kyle Kirkwood takes the pole for IndyCar main event

• April 15, 2023

LONG BEACH — It was just two years ago, in 2021, that Kyle Kirkwood was the series champion for Indy Lights, IndyCar’s support series.

On Saturday, in just his second season in IndyCar, Kirkwood won the pole position at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.

It is the first IndyCar pole of Kirkwood’s young career.

Kirkwood will start first Sunday when the race begins at 12:45 p.m. Marcus Ericsson will start second, Romain Grosjean third, Alex Palou fourth, Scott Dixon fifth and Pato O’Ward sixth.

Qualifying began with two groups going 10 minutes each. The top six with the fastest laps in each group advanced to the top 12 for another 10-minute session. The Fast Six moved into the final round, where they duked it out for the pole.

Kirkwood had a top lap time of 1:06.2878 in the final round, slightly ahead of Ericsson’s 1:06.3253.

“I couldn’t be any happier than this,” Kirkwood, 24, of Andretti Autosport, said immediately following the session in a trackside interview. “Third weekend with the team and I already got a pole. I’m so happy.”

After winning Indy Lights for Andretti Autosport, Kirkwood’s path to IndyCar was to sign with A.J. Foyt Enterprises – not because he wasn’t wanted by Andretti.

“I knew we had something special when he was driving Indy Lights … for us, so I feel like he was the real deal then,” team owner Michael Andretti said. “Unfortunately, at that point we couldn’t give him a ride (in IndyCar) because there was not a seat open.

“But we did have it in the back of our minds (that) we’re going to make a seat open for him the next year and that’s what we did and he’s doing exactly what we thought he would do. And I think there’s a lot to come out of Kyle.”

Kirkwood said he loves street courses, so he drove like he felt quite at home on the streets of Long Beach.

“They’re super enjoyable,” said Kirkwood, of Jupiter, Fla. “Something about the walls just brings me comfort.”

He said he likes street courses because they bring a driver “out of his shell because you’ve gotta really push.”

“I find that enjoyable,” Kirkwood said. “I find the challenge of street courses enjoyable and the fact that it’s always changing and you have to learn so quick because I feel like that’s where … you tend to like places that you do really good at, of course, right?

“And I tend to come up to speed very quick. On new tracks and whatnot, I feel like I’m one of the best at going out there, doing three laps and being the quickest. And then I’m like, ‘Ah, there’s still time left (in the car),’ and that sort of thing.”

Andretti recently moved race strategist Bryan Herta to Lockwood, with Scott Harner taking over Andretti teammate Colton Herta, son of Bryan. Andretti said he did it for one reason.

“He was a driver himself, so he’s got all that experience,” Andretti said of the elder Herta. “So for a young guy, he’s a perfect guy to help mentor him.”

Colton Herta, who will start seventh, at 23 is actually a year younger than Kirkwood, but he is in his fifth full season of IndyCar.

Ericsson, 32, of Sweden, would have loved to be on the pole, but he was satisfied with second.

“Yeah, I was really happy with that,” said Ericsson, of Chip Ganassi Racing. “I think we worked a lot in the winter to improve our qualifying and being on the front row is a great achievement. I think when you’re that close, you want to be on pole, of course, and we were really close to it.

“But (we) didn’t have any new tires and Kyle had a set of new tires, so I think that was a difference maker. But overall, super happy. I think Chip Ganassi Racing has done a tremendous job. We had three cars in the Fast Six, had four cars in top 12; I think that says a lot. Super happy and really excited about tomorrow.”

Josef Newgarden, the 2022 race winner, qualified eighth after not getting out of the top 12 and into the Fast Six in knockout qualifying..

“I think there’s time in the car, I just can’t track it,” Newgarden said.

Scott McLaughlin will start ninth and Felix Rosenqvist 10th.

Two-time race winners Alexander Rossi and Will Power will start 11th and 13th, respectively. And one-time winner Helio Castroneves will be in the No. 16 spot.

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Hall of Fame-bound Scott Dixon has second-fastest practice time for Grand Prix of Long Beach
Pato O’Ward brings momentum into Grand Prix of Long Beach
Grand Prix of Long Beach: Oh, baby, what a time it was for Josef Newgarden

​ Orange County Register 

Two catchers’ interference calls lead to Angels loss

• April 15, 2023

BOSTON — Angels catcher Matt Thaiss, who was making just his third start of the season, found himself at the center of a storm.

Two Boston Red Sox hitters hit his glove with their bats, reaching base on catcher’s interference and setting up the decisive rally in the Angels’ 9-7 loss Saturday at Fenway Park.

Right-hander Ryan Tepera was in to protect a one-run lead in the eighth inning. He gave up a leadoff single to Enrique Hernandez, and then he seemed to retire Raimel Tapia on a line drive to deep left field.

Umpires ruled that Tapia’s bat had nicked Thaiss’ glove, though, so he was awarded first base. The Angels challenged the call, but replay confirmed it.

After a strikeout, Reese McGuire also reached on catcher’s interference, this one unquestioned to load the bases. Yu Chang then pulled a ground ball through the left side of the infield to drive in two runs.

Tepera recorded one more out, but hit Justin Turner with a pitch and walked Rob Refsnyder, forcing in another run. Tepera then signaled for a trainer and left the game with an injury.

The Angels came up empty in the ninth, ending the roller-coaster game.

The Angels took a quick lead when Gio Urshela popped a grand slam over the Green Monster in the first inning.

Urshela’s first homer of the season followed a Mike Trout double – the 300th of his career – and walks to Anthony Rendon and Hunter Renfroe.

Left-hander Tyler Anderson had a four-run cushion before he threw his first pitch, but the Angels were down by two runs when he threw his last pitch.

Anderson gave up two-run homers to Rafael Devers in the first and Chang in the fourth. He was eventually charged with six runs, his second poor outing in his first three starts with the Angels.

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After pitching six scoreless innings against the Oakland A’s in his season debut, Anderson has allowed 11 earned runs in 8 2/3 innings in his past two starts.

Anderson has been spared losses in each of those games because of the Angels hitters. They rallied to overcome a four-run deficit last time.

Rendon and Urshela drove in runs in the top of the fifth to tie the game and Shohei Ohtani singled to push home the go-ahead run in the sixth.

More to come on this story.

​ Orange County Register 

5 takeaways from the USC spring football game

• April 15, 2023

LOS ANGELES — Here are some takeaways from USC’s spring football game, won by the defense by the score of 42-34.

Defense remains shaky

Let’s get this part out of the way, shouldn’t we?

The USC defense was always going to be the unit that received the most scrutiny in the spring game after an offseason wondering if it could fix all the problems that existed in 2022. So when the USC offense drove 75 yards in three plays on the opening series of the game, it spelled trouble for Alex Grinch’s beleaguered unit.

The Trojan defense posted just one three-and-out in the first half, on the second drive of the game. The next drive, USC trotted out its first-team defense against the third-team offense. A nice matchup to boost the confidence and perception of the D, right?

Except that the third-team O-line mashed USC’s defensive front to set up a 45-yard carry by freshman running back Quinten Joyner. Only two Mason Murphy false starts allowed the defense to escape allowing only a field goal.

This isn’t to say the defense didn’t have its moments. Jacobe Covington picked off two passes in the end zone, and Christian Pierce intercepted a Malachi Nelson floater along the sideline. And the defense started the second half strong, with Anthony Lucas, Jamil Muhammad and Raesjon Davis putting pressure on the quarterback.

But by that time, the USC offense had pulled most of its starters. The only starting offensive lineman in the game was Jonah Monheim, who was experimenting at center after starting at right tackle.

So, yeah, there’s still more for USC to address on the defense. Especially on the interior of the defensive line. But with the transfer portal about to open, USC has opportunities to do just that.

Still, head coach Lincoln Riley felt positive about the development of the USC defense this spring.

“The difference in the front-seven is noticeable,” Riley said. “You see, Year 2, some of these guys start to take off and all of a sudden everything’s not so new for them. They start to get settled in and they start to play faster and more confident and more of a playmaking attitude within that scheme because there is that familiarity.”

Breakout

If there was one player who made a name for himself during the spring game, it was Joyner. The freshman running back showed a lot of patience, allowing his offensive line to create holes for him. But when there was no room, he was not afraid to bounce outside and make defensive backs miss in space. He capped his day with a 26-yard touchdown run toward the end of the first half.

Overall, it was a good day for the USC run game. The line did a good job blocking and creating space. South Carolina transfer MarShawn Lloyd didn’t shine too much on the ground, but drew some oohs from the Coliseum crowd with a 25-yard catch in which he tiptoed down the sideline, then spun around to make a tackler miss and pick up extra yards. Freshman A’Marion Peterson added a late TD and hurdled over a defender.

“They’re amazing. I tell them that every day,” Lloyd said of the two freshmen. “They don’t even seem like freshmen to me. They’re still getting the playbook, but they’re very hard workers and it’s only up from here for them.”

One oddity was sophomore Raleek Brown, expected to play a prominent role in the offense this year, receiving one carry on an end-around. But that could be Riley keeping some play designs close to the chest. Brown did add a nice jump-ball catch against Domani Jackson toward the end of the game.

Work in progress

Freshman quarterback Malachi Nelson struggled for much of the day. He missed on his first four attempts, frequently throwing the ball well short of receivers even on button hooks. He had a lost fumble and two interceptions and just didn’t seem comfortable with the offense in his first public showcase.

Redshirt sophomore Miller Moss had a nice day with his arm and feet, and looks comfortable in the backup role for USC.

Branch strong

Highly recruited freshman receiver Zachariah Branch dropped his first target of the day, but settled down to be a reliable option in short-yardage throws for USC’s quarterbacks. He also displayed some surprising strength, given his 5-foot-10 frame and the fact that he enrolled in college only three months ago. He shoved linebacker Shane Lee away on one play, then spun out of a Jaylin Smith tackle attempt on his longest completion of the day.

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“His strength in the weight room as a freshman is crazy,” receiver Dorian Singer said. “He’s incredible. Fast, freakish. What you see on the screen is what you get in practice.”

Heisman back home

Quarterback Caleb Williams didn’t do much on the field. He led that opening, 75-yard touchdown drive with a 45-yard pass to Brenden Rice before finding Mario Williams in the corner of the end zone. After that, he put his helmet down for the rest of the day.

But he did receive USC’s copy of his 2022 Heisman Trophy at halftime. He was flanked by teammates from last year’s team, including Brett Neilon and Travis Dye, as he raised the trophy over his head.

​ Orange County Register 

LeBron James tells Lakers: Just ‘go out and hoop’ vs. Grizzlies

• April 15, 2023

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — LeBron James had a message for his teammates after the Lakers’ final practice before opening their first-round playoff series Sunday afternoon against the Memphis Grizzlies. It wasn’t about novel approaches to strategy or possible adjustments or anything sophisticated.

“Just go out and have fun,” James said Saturday. “Go out and hoop.”

After playing 82 regular-season games and one more in the play-in tournament, the Lakers weren’t in a mood to overthink where they’ve been or how they got from a 2-10 record to open the season to a 10-2 closing mark to get to this point. They’re here and that’s all that really matters.

“We’ve just got to go out and play free,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said, expanding on James’ post-practice thoughts. “We’ve got our strategies, and our adjustments, our initial coverages, and so on and so forth, but at the end of the day, you’ve just got to go out and hoop.

“It’s a beautiful time to be a part of NBA basketball. The postseason. Everyone doesn’t get a chance to do this. Everyone doesn’t get to participate in it. And those guys coming in for the first time and with limited experience or no experience, you’ve just got to remember who you are as a player and who we are as a team, and just go out and put your best foot forward.”

The Lakers stressed the notion that the regular-season records and the seedings don’t matter. Everyone is starting fresh – whether seventh-seeded, as the Lakers are, or second-seeded, as the Grizzlies are. The games are up for grabs, and it’s up to the Lakers to take full advantage, starting Sunday.

If the Lakers developed a bit of a swagger during their sizzling end to the regular season, it was difficult to tell Saturday. They spoke in reserved tones, calmly, confidently laying out some but certainly not all of their plans for the Grizzlies, a team they defeated in two of three regular-season games.

There’s been a slow buildup to their return to the playoffs. The days that it was a foregone conclusion before the start of training camp that they would qualify for the playoffs and make a deep run are long past, replaced by a different kind of assuredness that was evident Saturday.

“I’m very confident in our team and our group, with the guys that we have, the coaching staff that we have,” Anthony Davis said. “We do a good job of preparing, getting ready for teams. This is no different. As long as we stay together and we defend. I’m not really worried about the offensive end. We can score.

“We’ve got to come out and defend, especially in this series. Their guys are playing with a lot of pace. Have a lot of shooting. Offensive rebounding. We’ve got to defend and rebound and try to limit their All-Stars. Their guys. And if we’re able to do that, we’ll put ourselves in a good position to win.”

Naturally, it helps the Lakers’ chances for what the oddsmakers and pundits would consider an upset series victory over the Grizzlies that James and Davis are healthy going into Game 1. So many of the Lakers’ ups and downs this season could be traced to their unavailability because of injuries.

Officially, James (foot), Davis (foot) and Dennis Schröder were listed as probable for Game 1.

The Grizzlies are not at full strength, with big men Steven Adams (knee) and Brandon Clarke (Achilles) likely sidelined for the remainder of the season. It could give the Lakers a healthy advantage in the paint for a best-of-7 series that’s expected to be close and might go the distance.

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“I mean, anytime me and Bron are able to be on the floor together, our chances heighten as far as winning basketball games,” Davis said. “But … (Memphis) is a good team. We know they’re not healthy. Missing some guys. But they’re still capable of beating us. And so we have to be mindful of that. But anytime me and Bron are able to step on the floor, it always causes a threat.”

Lakers at Grizzlies

What: Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference first-round series

When: Noon Sunday

Where: FedExForum, Memphis

TV: Ch. 7

​ Orange County Register