Dec 8, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (9) drives past Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Imagesimage captionDec 8, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (9) drives past Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Dec 8, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (9) drives past Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The Los Angeles Lakers, playing without LeBron James for the first time this season, leaned on Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell to secure a 107-98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night. Davis delivered a dominant performance with 30 points and 11 rebounds, while Russell added 28 points and a season-high 14 assists in a pivotal reserve role. Rui Hachimura stepped up with 23 points, including 14 in a critical second quarter, helping the Lakers snap a three-game skid.
The Trail Blazers, led by Deandre Ayton's 14 points and 19 rebounds and Shaedon Sharpe's 19 points, struggled to keep pace despite showing improvement on the boards following a lopsided loss to the Jazz. Ayton’s presence helped Portland stay competitive on the glass after being thoroughly out-rebounded in their previous game.
A key moment came in the second quarter when Hachimura scored 14 of his 23 points on 5-of-6 shooting, helping Los Angeles erase an early deficit and build a 59-45 halftime lead. The Lakers maintained control despite Portland's efforts to rally in the second half and were impressive throughout. Following their victory tonight, let's grade the Lakers players.
Anthony Davis: A
Stats: 30 points, 11 rebounds (2 offensive), 1 assist, 2 steals, 5 blocks, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 10-21 FG, 1-4 3PT FG, 9-9 FT, 32 mins, +4 +/-
Anthony Davis anchored the Lakers with a dominant performance, finishing with 30 points, 11 rebounds, and five blocks. His perfect 9-of-9 shooting from the free-throw line highlighted his aggression, and he was pivotal on both ends of the floor. His rim protection and ability to step up without LeBron James made the difference in securing the win.
D'Angelo Russell: A
Stats: 28 points, 5 rebounds, 14 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks, 2 turnovers, 4 fouls, 9-17 FG, 5-10 3PT FG, 5-6 FT, 34 mins, +29 +/-
D'Angelo Russell excelled in his reserve role, tallying a season-high 14 assists alongside 28 points. His shooting efficiency (9-17 FG, 5-10 3PT) and ability to orchestrate the offense were instrumental in keeping the Lakers in control. With a game-high +29, Russell's performance showcased his value as both a scorer and a playmaker.
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Rui Hachimura: B+
Stats: 23 points, 5 rebounds (1 offensive), 2 assists, 4 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, 9-13 FG, 3-5 3PT FG, 2-2 FT, 39 mins, +31 +/-
Hachimura stepped up in a significant way, especially in the second quarter, where he scored 14 of his 23 points. He was highly efficient (9-13 FG, 3-5 3PT) and contributed defensively with four steals. His +31 plus/minus reflects his impact on the game, though his overall performance was slightly overshadowed by Davis and Russell.
Dalton Knecht: C+
Stats: 6 points, 8 rebounds (1 offensive), 1 assist, 1 steal, 0 blocks, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, 3-9 FG, 0-3 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, 22 mins, 0 +/-
Dalton Knecht contributed on the glass with eight rebounds but struggled offensively, shooting just 3-of-9 from the field. While his hustle was evident, his 0-for-3 shooting from beyond the arc limited his scoring impact.
Cam Reddish: C+
Stats: 6 points, 0 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 0 blocks, 0 turnovers, 1 foul, 2-3 FG, 1-2 3PT FG, 1-2 FT, 26 mins, +13 +/-
Cam Reddish played a solid supporting role with six points and four assists. He made the most of his limited attempts, shooting 2-of-3 from the field, but his overall impact was modest. His +13 plus/minus highlights his efficiency during his minutes.
Max Christie: C+
Stats: 4 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 1-6 FG, 1-4 3PT FG, 1-2 FT, 26 mins, -9 +/-
Christie showed effort on both ends with four points, four rebounds, and two assists. However, his shooting woes (1-6 FG, 1-4 3PT) hindered his offensive contribution. His defensive presence helped offset some of his inefficiencies, but his -9 plus/minus reflected his struggles.
Gabe Vincent: C
Stats: 3 points, 1 rebound (1 offensive), 0 assists, 3 steals, 0 blocks, 2 turnovers, 4 fouls, 1-4 FG, 1-2 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, 25 mins, +16 +/-
Vincent had a quiet night offensively, scoring only three points on 1-of-4 shooting. His three steals showcased his defensive hustle, but his four fouls and two turnovers limited his overall effectiveness.
Christian Koloko: C
Stats: 2 points, 6 rebounds (3 offensive), 1 assist, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 0 turnovers, 3 fouls, 1-3 FG, 0-0 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, 16 mins, +5 +/-
Koloko provided energy on the boards with six rebounds, including three offensive. However, his scoring impact was minimal, with just two points on 1-of-3 shooting. His +5 plus/minus indicates he contributed positively in limited minutes.
Quincy Olivari: N/A
Stats: 3 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 1 turnover, 0 fouls, 1-3 FG, 1-3 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, 8 mins, -13 +/-
Olivari played just eight minutes, scoring three points on 1-of-3 shooting. While his effort was commendable, he had minimal influence on the game due to limited playing time.
Armel Traore: N/A
Stats: 2 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 0 turnovers, 0 fouls, 1-2 FG, 0-1 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, 7 mins, -13 +/-
Traore added two points in seven minutes but didn’t contribute much else statistically. His brief appearance didn’t allow him to make a significant impact.
Bronny James: N/A
Stats: 0 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals, 1 block, 0 turnovers, 0 fouls, 0-2 FG, 0-0 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, 2 mins, -9 +/-
James played only two minutes and didn’t score, recording a block but missing both of his shot attempts. His role was too limited to evaluate fully.
Maxwell Lewis: N/A
Stats: 0 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 1 turnover, 0 fouls, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, 2 mins, -9 +/-
Lewis also saw just two minutes of action and didn’t register a single stat aside from a turnover. His time on the court was insufficient to leave an impression.
The Lakers will look to build on this victory as they aim for more consistency amid a challenging early-season stretch, as they face the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center at 8:00 PM EST on Friday night.
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