Lakers 107-95 Trail Blazers (18 Nov, 2023) Game Recap،
PORTLAND, Ore. — LeBron James tied his season high with 35 points and the Los Angeles Lakers handed the Portland Trail Blazers their sixth straight loss with a 107-95 victory in an in-season tournament game Friday night .
Anthony Davis added 16 points and 14 rebounds, and the Lakers moved to 3-0 in Group A with the win counting toward the regular season.
Jerami Grant had 24 points for Portland. With the loss, the Blazers fell to 1-2 in the tournament and were eliminated from a chance to win their group.
The Lakers led by 17 points in the final quarter. Rui Hachimura’s 3-pointer put Los Angeles ahead 97-83 with just over seven minutes left, sending fans toward the exits.
James was listed as questionable with a calf contusion, but he started and played with a calf sleeve, finishing with nine assists.
Los Angeles kept its starters until the end, because the difference in points counts in the group standings.
The Lakers led by 13 points in the first quarter and took a 30-23 lead into the second. They stretched it to 54-40 on D’Angelo Russell’s 3-pointer before entering the half ahead 60-50.
Jerami Grant’s 3-pointer and free throw for Portland cut the lead to 63-60 early in the third. The Blazers closed to 68-67 on Skylar Mays’ 3.
Russell finished with 14 points for the Lakers, who were coming off a 125-110 loss to the Sacramento Kings, ending a three-game winning streak.
Deandre Ayton had 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Blazers.
While trying to rebuild after the departure of All-Star Damian Lillard in the offseason, Portland has been plagued by injuries, with starting guard Anfernee Simons (right thumb), rookie Scoot Henderson (right ankle) and Malcolm Brogdon (left hamstring) all out. .
“We are so young. Often, even on our walkthroughs and shootarounds, we spend most of our time talking about our concepts or things we want to do, and a little time on the Lakers or Grizzlies or whatever,” said coach Chauncy Billups. “We’re still learning so much.”
FOLLOWING
Lakers: Host the Houston Rockets on Sunday.
Trail Blazers: Host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday.
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