Los Angeles - The Lakers finally got the bounce-back win they desperately needed, taking down the Portland Trail Blazers 107-98 at home on Sunday night. Even with LeBron James and Austin Reaves sidelined, L.A. managed to look like a completely different team than the one that dropped three of four on their recent road trip.
D'Angelo Russell stepped up in James' absence, orchestrating the offense with the kind of playmaking we've been waiting to see. He didn't just facilitate – he caught fire at exactly the right moment, torching the Blazers from deep late in the third and early fourth quarter. Russell finished with 28 points on 9-of-17 shooting (5-of-10 from three) and dished out 14 assists, showing exactly why the Lakers continued to have faith in him throughout his early season struggles.
Anthony Davis, predictably, dominated a Portland frontcourt that had no answer for him. AD controlled both ends of the floor, posting 30 points, 11 rebounds, five blocks, and two steals. He was perfect from the line too, hitting all nine free throws. While Davis had 14 of the team's 22 first-quarter points, it was the supporting cast that ultimately helped seal the deal.
Rui Hachimura, in particular, showed exactly what he can bring when he's aggressive. He bullied Portland's smaller defenders while also making them pay from deep, finishing with an efficient 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting. More impressively, he added four steals, showing the two-way impact the Lakers need from their role players.
The win wasn't without its shaky moments – Portland opened the third quarter with a 9-0 run, and Scoot Henderson's halfcourt buzzer-beater cut what had been a comfortable lead to just three points heading into the fourth. But unlike recent games, the Lakers showed resilience. Russell's hot shooting and playmaking sparked a fourth-quarter run that put the game out of reach.
The Lakers now get a much-needed break before facing the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, giving them time to potentially get healthy and build on this momentum. After missing the knockout rounds of the Emirates NBA Cup, they'll need to use this time wisely to address the issues that plagued them during their recent skid.
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This story was originally published December 9, 2024, 11:41 AM.