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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Damian Lillard scored 21 of his 31 factors within the second half, and CJ McCollum had 20 factors and 11 assists within the Portland Path Blazers’ 115-107 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday evening.
“Hopefully we will construct on it,” Portland coach Terry Stotts mentioned. “We notice that we generally is a good workforce. We simply beat the defending champs, they usually’re an incredible workforce.”
Gary Trent Jr. matched his profession excessive with seven 3-pointers whereas scoring 28 factors within the Blazers’ second straight win over the Lakers at Staples Middle.
“It makes us just a bit bit extra assured to be approaching the street and persevering with to develop, persevering with to construct on our effort,” Lillard mentioned. “We’re simply getting extra comfy with one another, and we’re bringing our power.”
LeBron James had 29 factors, 9 rebounds and 6 assists for the NBA champions, who completed 2-2 on their season-opening homestand. Dennis Schroder added 24 factors, however the Lakers’ streak of 59 straight victories when taking a lead into the fourth quarter was snapped.
Trent went 10 of 14 from the sphere whereas ending two factors off his profession excessive in a powerful response after taking part in lower than six minutes in Portland’s win over Houston final Saturday.
“I might assume any younger participant who was coming off the type of season he had final season would anticipate to be within the rotation for greater than six minutes,” Lillard mentioned. “When that occurred, I used to be like, `Let’s see how he responds.’ I believe it says so much about him that he got here out and had the sort of efficiency. It speaks to how robust he’s mentally and the way locked in he’s to this season.”
Los Angeles saved it shut with robust video games from James and Schroder, who clearly relishes his matchups with Lillard. However their teammates largely struggled on the second evening of a back-to-back.
“We have been type of caught in mud a little bit bit,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel mentioned. “I don’t know (why). We simply had hassle sustaining that depth.”
The Lakers made a 15-0 run early within the second half and took a one-point lead into the fourth, however Lillard and McCollum traded massive photographs down the stretch. Portland completed on a 12-6 surge.
Carmelo Anthony and Nassir Little missed the sport underneath the NBA’s well being protocols, as did the Lakers’ Alex Caruso.
Anthony Davis had 13 factors and 10 rebounds in a tentative return from a one-game absence because of a bruised calf.
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Gary Trent Jr., Damian Lillard shoot Path Blazers previous Lakers 115-107 initially appeared on NBCSports.com
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