The Trail Blazers' short-lived winning streak comes to an end as Russell and James propel the Lakers to a commanding 134-110 victory.
D’Angelo Russell notched 34 points, complemented by LeBron James’ 28, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a decisive 134-110 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night, bringing the Lakers back to a .500 record. Austin Reaves contributed 15 points, while Anthony Davis recorded a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds, enabling the Lakers (22-22) to rebound from a recent 18-point defeat to Brooklyn.
Russell and James orchestrated the Lakers’ offensive dominance, combining to score the team’s initial 19 points in the fourth quarter. Russell showcased his skills on one of the Lakers’ season-high 35 fastbreak points, executing a deceptive behind-the-back pass fake to James, who was running alongside, only to keep the ball and finish with a layin.
“That was dope,” remarked James, shaking his head in admiration afterward. “The only way to get fastbreak points is to defend, defend without fouling, and we did that.”
As James contributed with a dunk, a 3-pointer, and four successful free throws, he and Russell propelled the Lakers to a commanding 23-point lead. Russell, who returned to the starting lineup five games ago, displayed determination to complement James and Davis by taking on a more assertive role.
“He’s been aggressive looking for his shot, and we continue to try to find him, especially in transition,” noted James. With the game comfortably in their control, James opted to rest during the final six minutes, joining Davis and the other starters on the bench.
Malcolm Brogdon led Portland with 23 points and nine assists, while Anfernee Simons contributed 19 points and Jerami Grant added 17 as the Trail Blazers, currently positioned second-to-last in the Western Conference, saw their two-game winning streak come to an end.
Lakers coach Darvin Ham acknowledged, "The Trail Blazers have a certain record, but at the end of the day, they've still got a lot of firepower over there.
During the third quarter, Russell showcased his scoring prowess with 13 points, including three 3-pointers, as the Lakers expanded their lead from 13 to 22 points. He continued his hot shooting in the fourth, tying his season-high with six 3-pointers. Russell finished just one point shy of his season high, ending the game with 34 points and eight assists
"Darwin Hamm said, "He's really focused on his game and focusing on ways he can help the team." Darwin Hamm commented, "He had one of the most complete games I've seen tonight." Have seen one since he came back in uniform."
Next up, the Trail Blazers will face Oklahoma City on Tuesday night, while the Lakers will take on the Clippers on the same night.