Damian Lillard delivered the kind of closing punch Portland has come to expect, and the Trail Blazers left Crypto.com Arena with a 136-129 comeback win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.
Portland remained unbeaten at 3-0 and handed the Lakers their first loss, improving the Blazers’ start in a season that is already showing some bite. The finish belonged to Lillard, who buried a dagger three-pointer with 43 seconds left to push Portland’s lead to six.
Lillard finished with 21 points, five rebounds and four assists, and once again looked completely at ease in the final stretch. The 36-year-old helped fuel Portland’s late surge as the Blazers closed by outscoring Los Angeles 34-26 in the fourth quarter.
The return from Achilles injury has not slowed him down. Lillard has looked sharp from the jump, and Tuesday was another reminder that the old late-game instincts are still right there.
Portland didn’t lean on just one scorer, either. Deni Avdija posted 23 points, four rebounds and nine assists, while Ja Morant also scored 23 and added four assists. Off the bench, Jrue Holiday gave the Blazers 22 points, four rebounds and three assists, and Robert Williams III chipped in 14 points, 10 rebounds and two steals.
Even with that depth, Portland still had to absorb a huge night from Luka Doncic, who put up 41 points, five rebounds and nine assists. Austin Reaves added 26 points, four rebounds and seven assists for Los Angeles.
The Blazers also did plenty of damage with their shooting. They hit 59% from the field and went 18-of-36 from deep, though they also left points on the table by missing 15 free throws. Portland turned 15 Lakers turnovers into 19 points.
The 3-0 start is only the second for the Trail Blazers in the last 15 years. They’ll be back home Thursday to host the Memphis Grizzlies at Moda Center.
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Blazers Sent A Message By Outmuscling Luka And The Lakers
The Trail Blazers did more than survive a shootout with the Lakers, they won the physical side of it. Portland's 136-129 victory came even with Luka Doncic pouring in 41 points and Austin Reaves adding 26, because the Blazers kept answering at the other end and repeatedly turned the game into a test of shot-making, effort and presence on the glass.
What stood out for Portland was not just the scoring, but the way it controlled the margins that usually decide games like this. The Blazers shot better, got to the line more often and won the rebounding battle, a combination that let them absorb the Lakers' firepower and still finish on top in a game that was never short on offense. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Exposed A Big Lakers Problem Even On Lukas Night
Luka Doncic gave the Lakers exactly the sort of explosive scoring night they hoped for, piling up 40 points against the Trail Blazers and adding another entry to a growing list of big performances in Los Angeles. It was his 20th career 40-point game for the Lakers, pushing him past LeBron James for sixth on the franchises all-time list in that category, a notable marker even in a loss.
But Portland still walked away with a 136-129 win, which is the part that should linger for the Lakers. When one of the leagues most dangerous scorers can post a night like that and it still isnt enough, it points to how much the rest of the roster has to hold up around him. For the Blazers, it was a reminder that they can absorb a star outburst and still find a way to finish the job. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers May Have Avoided A Giannis Problem Miami Couldn't
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Miami is now living with the realities of that kind of move after landing Giannis, and the opening stretch has not exactly looked like the instant contender blueprint the Heat hoped for. A poor start has already raised questions about how quickly the roster can support a title push, which only adds another layer to Portlands what-if. The Blazers may not have landed the biggest name in the conversation, but they also avoided the immediate pressure that comes with trying to make a championship timeline work from day one. [Read more 🡒]