In one of the best games of the season so far, the Portland Trail Blazers weathered Luka Doncic’s latest outburst and defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 136–129. Taking centre stage: Damian Lillard and Ja Morant, who turned back the clock.
Following the injury setbacks suffered by the Oklahoma City Thunder and Anthony Edwards’ long-term absence, the balance of power in the Western Conference is shifting, and the Portland Trail Blazers are set to have their say in the race for the top spots.
Following victories over the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns, the away game against the Los Angeles Lakers was the first real litmus test of the season, which the newly formed team passed with flying colours. Particularly in crunch time, they impressively demonstrated their offensive class through Damian Lillard and Ja Morant.
Although the Lakers had got off to a better start and quickly built a double-digit lead thanks to some difficult step-back three-pointers from Luka Doncic, Portland managed to level the score before half-time. It was the same story in the second half: L.A. initially pulled away by double figures, but the Blazers fought back and briefly led by eight points themselves, before the game entered a dramatic closing phase.
Damian Lillard decides the game in crunch time
Austin Reaves levelled the score with 5:22 left on the clock, after which the focus initially turned to the referees. In the final five minutes of the match, they called no fewer than three unsportsmanlike fouls for flopping (two against Portland, one against L.A.), all of which sparked debate but were correct calls and in line with the stricter officiating standards of the new season.
On the court, however, it was a real shootout; the only question was which team would blink first. Dani Avdija responded to a three-pointer from Doncic with a shot from outside; in the following possession, Zaire Williams slammed his shot from downtown through the net. This was followed by a difficult floater from Ja Morant, before Walker Kessler missed twice from the free-throw line, opening the door for the Blazers. Morant switched to ‘vintage mode’ and secured a five-point lead, before Lillard sealed the victory with a three-pointer from downtown with 43 seconds left on the clock.
For the Blazers, four players – Morant (23), Avdija (23), Jrue Holiday (22) and Lillard (21) – scored at least 20 points, whilst Donovan Clinghan and Robert Williams each grabbed ten rebounds. For the Lakers, Doncic was once again the standout performer with 41 points (12/22 FG) and nine assists, followed by Austin Reaves (26) and new signing Sandro Mamukelashvili.
Following their first defeat of the season, the Lakers face their next match against the Clippers tonight, whilst Portland host the surprise package from Memphis in the early hours of Friday morning.