PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS BEAT LOS ANGELES LAKERS 136-129

Portland Trail Blazers beat Los Angeles Lakers 136-129 at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday night, extending their unbeaten start to three games. Ja Morant and Deni Avdija scored 23 points each for Portland, while Damian Lillard added 21. Lillard hit a three-pointer with just over 40 seconds remaining to give Portland a six-point lead. Luka Doncic scored 41 points for Los Angeles, whose first defeat left them with three wins from four games. Portland recorded its second 3-0 start in the past 15 years under new coach Micah Nori.

Doncic added nine assists and five rebounds, while Austin Reaves scored 26 points and made seven assists for the Lakers. Doncic scored 16 points in the first quarter, which Los Angeles ended ahead 38-32. Jrue Holiday scored 22 points for Portland, and Robert Williams III added 14 points and 10 rebounds. Donovan Clingan also collected 10 rebounds. Portland’s recorded game figures put its shooting at 59% from the field, including 18 three-pointers from 36 attempts.

Portland moved eight points ahead early in the fourth quarter before Los Angeles narrowed the gap. Lillard and Avdija then made consecutive three-pointers, and Morant followed with two mid-range jump shots. Portland’s bench outscored the Lakers’ reserves 48-33, according to the recorded game figures. Those figures also put Portland ahead 55-35 in rebounds. The win kept Portland unbeaten and ended the Lakers’ three-game winning start.