Ja Morant and Damian Lillard Lead Trail Blazers Past Lakers
The Portland Trail Blazers continued their impressive start to the NBA season with a 136-129 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, handing the Lakers their first defeat of the campaign.
Ja Morant and Deni Avdija led Portland with 23 points each, while Damian Lillard added 21 points in a high-scoring contest at Crypto.com Arena.
The Lakers entered the game unbeaten after winning their first three matches, but they were unable to keep Portland’s balanced attack under control.
Luka Doncic delivered another outstanding individual performance, finishing with 41 points and nine assists. Austin Reaves also contributed 26 points and seven assists, but their efforts were not enough to prevent the Lakers from suffering their first loss.
The game remained competitive throughout, with both teams trading baskets and leads. Los Angeles held a narrow advantage entering the final quarter, but Portland found another gear when it mattered most.
Morant stepped up with important baskets down the stretch, while Lillard delivered the decisive three-pointer with just over 40 seconds remaining to give Portland a six-point lead.
The Trail Blazers finished the game strongly, outscoring the Lakers 34-26 in the fourth quarter to secure their third consecutive victory and maintain their unbeaten record.
The win also marked a significant statement from Portland, which has started the season with renewed confidence and a strong offensive presence.
For the Lakers, the defeat serves as an early reminder that their impressive scoring ability must be matched by greater defensive consistency if they are to remain among the leading teams in the Western Conference.
