Trail Blazers Drop Fourth Straight In 107-98 Defeat To LeBron-less Lakers
750 The Game Staff
Entering the four quarter down by just three points, the Blazers could not complete the comeback in Los Angeles on Sunday, losing 107-98 to the LA Lakers.
Portland has lost four straight. They are 8-16 overall on the season, third-worst in the Western Conference and seventh-worst in the league standings.
The Blazers are next in action on Friday, Dec. 13th hosting Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.
Without LeBron James (foot soreness), the Lakers turned to Anthony Davis who scored 30 points and corralled 11 rebounds while guard D’Angelo Russell dazzled off the bench with 28 points and a season-high 14 assists. Rui Hacahmura also had a season-high 23 points for the Lakers who snapped a three-game losing streak with the win.
Shaedon Sharpe led the way for Portland with 19 points to go with 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Anfernee Simons and Deandre Ayton had 14 points each, and Ayton secured a season-high 19 rebounds.
The Blazers got out to a 28-22 lead through the opening quarter but struggled in the second quarter to trail 59-45 at the half. The Blazers responded well in the third quarter, outscoring the Lakers 29-18 in the frame, to make it a 77-74 LA advantage entering the final quarter. But Portland would get no closer as the Lakers led by as many as 20 points in the fourth quarter on their way to the victory.