LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers achieved a 107-98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night, thanks to impressive performances from Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell. Davis contributed 30 points and secured 11 rebounds, while Russell tallied 28 points along with a season-high of 14 assists. This win came without the presence of LeBron James, who sat out due to a left foot contusion.
In this matchup, Max Christie made his second start for the Lakers, contributing modestly with four points and four rebounds. Rui Hachimura was another standout for Los Angeles, scoring 23 points, as the team snapped a three-game losing streak, having previously lost seven out of their last nine games.
For the Trail Blazers, Deandre Ayton was notable, finishing the game with 14 points and an impressive 19 rebounds. Portland faced their fourth consecutive defeat, and they have now lost six of their last seven games. Shaedon Sharpe added 19 points for the team, which was still reeling from a heavy 42-point loss to the Utah Jazz earlier in the week.
Observations from the game highlighted Portland’s improved performance on the boards compared to their last outing against the Jazz, particularly through Ayton’s efforts. Prior to this game, the Blazers were outrebounded 61-34 and seemed much more engaged against the Lakers.
Meanwhile, for the Lakers, Russell’s career-high in assists came as he transitioned to a reserve role, having been a starting point guard for the opening games of the season. With injuries impacting the lineup, including Austin Reaves’ pelvic injury, Russell stepped up admirably when called into the starting position.
A pivotal moment in the game was Hachimura’s remarkable performance in the second quarter, where he scored 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting. His contributions helped the Lakers overcome an early deficit, allowing them to establish a comfortable 59-45 lead by halftime.
One unique aspect of the game was that seven MVP awards were present in the arena, with four belonging to LeBron James on the Lakers’ bench and three awarded to Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers, watching from a private area just behind the courtside seats.
Looking ahead, the Trail Blazers will return home to face the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night. The Lakers are set to travel to Minnesota for their next matchup, also on Friday.
