Reaves Shines, But Trail Blazers Outlast Injury-Hit Lakers 122–108
It was one of those nights in Los Angeles where grit met exhaustion, and even though Austin Reaves gave everything he had, it still wasn’t enough. The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the shorthanded Lakers 122–108 at Crypto.com Arena, as injuries and fatigue finally caught up with L.A.
The Lakers were playing their second game in as many nights, already without seven of their key players — and that uphill battle showed early. LeBron James was sidelined with a right sciatica issue, Luka Dončić was dealing with both a finger sprain and a leg contusion, while Marcus Smart, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, Jaxson Hayes, and Adou Thiero were also unavailable. That left first-year head coach JJ Redick with little flexibility and a rotation stretched dangerously thin.
Despite all of that, Austin Reaves once again put on a performance worth remembering. Coming off a 51-point explosion against Sacramento just 24 hours earlier, Reaves poured in 41 points against Portland — marking 92 points in two nights and 143 across the Lakers’ first four games, tying a franchise record set by Elgin Baylor back in 1962. He played nearly 40 minutes, shot an efficient 13-for-22 from the floor, and knocked down three triples.
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After the game, a clearly drained Reaves admitted, “I’m tired, but this is why we play the game. We competed. We just didn’t execute the way we needed to.”
Even with help from Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton, who both added 16 points, the Lakers simply couldn’t keep up. Portland capitalized on L.A.’s lack of ballhandlers — forcing 25 turnovers that led to 30 Blazers points. With Reaves being the only real playmaker available, the Lakers’ offense often broke down under pressure.
The shooting struggles didn’t help either. The Lakers missed 11 of their first 12 three-point attempts and finished just 7-for-27 from deep. Portland, meanwhile, played balanced and disciplined basketball. Deni Avdija led the Blazers with 25 points, while Jrue Holiday added 24, both effectively picking apart the Lakers’ short-handed defense.
Jarred Vanderbilt praised Reaves’ relentless effort, saying, “He’s a competitor. Ninety-some points in two games — that’s crazy. He left everything on the floor.”
Redick, when asked about the team’s situation, said he was “hopeful” that Jaxson Hayes and Marcus Smart could return soon. But the immediate schedule offers no mercy — the Lakers face the Timberwolves on Wednesday and the Grizzlies on Friday, wrapping up a brutal four-game week without their full roster.
In the end, it wasn’t for lack of heart. The Lakers played hard but were simply outnumbered and outpaced. Portland’s depth made the difference, while Austin Reaves once again proved he can shoulder the load — even if the scoreboard didn’t reflect his heroics.
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