Portland’s balanced scoring settles a high-scoring finish
The Portland Trail Blazers remained unbeaten with a 136–129 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday, October 27, overcoming 41 points from Luka Dončić. The game ended on October 28 in the Philippines, with Portland moving to 3–0 and Los Angeles falling to 3–1.
Ja Morant and Deni Avdija scored 23 points each, Jrue Holiday supplied 22 off the bench and Damian Lillard added 21. Avdija also had nine assists. Their combined 89 points gave Portland several scoring options in a game that stayed close into the closing minutes.
Morant made consecutive baskets late in the fourth quarter, and Lillard followed with a three-pointer with about 43 seconds remaining to push the lead to 135–129. Dončić and Austin Reaves missed from outside on the next Lakers possession before Holiday added a free throw to complete the scoring.
According to the Associated Press, Portland finished with a 15–8 run to preserve its perfect start under coach Micah Nori. The final stretch followed a back-and-forth second half in which the Lakers had led by 11 before Portland recovered.
Dončić added nine assists to his 41 points, two days after scoring 52 against Utah. Reaves finished with 26 points and seven assists, while Sandro Mamukelashvili contributed 17. Los Angeles shot 56.2 percent from the field, but Portland’s offense proved more productive.
The Blazers made 18 of 36 three-point attempts and shot 59 percent overall, according to Field Level Media. Lillard, Avdija and Toumani Camara each made four threes. Robert Williams III added 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Donovan Clingan also collected 10 rebounds.
Portland’s next scheduled game is at home against Memphis on Thursday, October 29. For the Lakers, the loss ended their three-game winning start despite another high-scoring performance from Dončić.