Even without LeBron James, Lakers put away Blazers

Anthony Davis scored 30 points with 13 rebounds, Rui Hachimura added 19 points, and the Los Angeles Lakers earned a 116-110 victory over the visiting Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, November 12 (Monday, November 13, Manila time).

Cam Reddish and Austin Reaves each added 18 points for Los Angeles in the second game with Reddish in Reaves’ former starting spot. The Lakers overcame the absence of LeBron James, who sat out for the first time this season with a left calf contusion.

D’Angelo Russell had 11 points with 11 assists for Los Angeles, which won just three times in the first eight games but has delivered back-to-back wins with an adjusted starting lineup.

Jerami Grant scored 23 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter, and Shaedon Sharp added 19 for the shorthanded Trail Blazers. Skylar Mays had 15 points with 12 assists for Portland, while Matisse Thybulle had 14 points and Deandre Ayton added 12.

Portland was without Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring), Scoot Henderson (ankle), and Anfernee Simons (thumb). Robert Williams III (knee) is out for the season.

The roller-coaster Trail Blazers lost their first three games, won their next three and are on another three-game skid.

The Blazers led 57-56 at halftime and went up 61-56 early in the third quarter before the Lakers took charge. Los Angeles went on a 15-2 run in the third to take an 81-70 lead with 3:41 left in the period and went into the fourth quarter with a 91-80 advantage.

Portland did not wait long to get back into the game, pulling to within a point at 93-92 with 8:44 remaining after a three-pointer from Grant. Los Angeles went up 102-94 before the Blazers put together a 7-0 run to pull within a point again at 102-101 on another Grant three-pointer with 5:03 left.

With the game still tight down the stretch, baskets by Davis and Hachimura gave the Lakers a 112-106 lead with 1:19 remaining and Los Angeles sealed the victory with four free throws in the final 16 seconds. – Rappler.com