Nick Smith Jr. Shines as Short-Handed Lakers Stun the Blazers
What a night it turned out to be in Portland! The Los Angeles Lakers, missing some of their biggest stars, managed to pull off an incredible 123–115 road victory over the Portland Trail Blazers — and the spotlight was firmly on an unexpected hero, Nick Smith Jr.
Now, if you think the Lakers’ roster sounds a little thin lately, you’re absolutely right. LeBron James, still sidelined with sciatica, hasn’t suited up yet this season. Luka Doncic was resting a leg contusion, and Austin Reaves sat out with groin soreness. Even so, the Lakers came out ready to fight — and boy, did they deliver.
Nick Smith Jr., a young guard not even active in the previous game against Miami, made the most of his chance. He exploded for 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting, including five three-pointers, and dished out six assists — a career best. It was one of those performances where you could almost feel the moment shifting his career upward. He scored 10 of those points in the fourth quarter, becoming the closer when the Lakers needed him most.
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But Smith wasn’t alone. Deandre Ayton, playing against his former team, dominated with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks. Rui Hachimura added 28 points on efficient 10-of-15 shooting. Together, they led the Lakers to their fourth straight win — and all without their marquee names.
Portland, meanwhile, had its own standout in Deni Avdija, who dropped a season-high 33 points. Shaedon Sharpe chipped in with 23 points and seven rebounds, and Jerami Grant added 18 off the bench. But despite those solid numbers, the Blazers couldn’t find rhythm from long range, hitting only 22.5% from beyond the arc.
The game itself swung back and forth. Portland opened the third quarter with a strong 12–4 run to grab a nine-point lead, but the Lakers answered with a fiery 19–4 burst, seizing back control. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, Los Angeles was playing with confidence. A late 10–0 surge sealed the deal — with Smith draining back-to-back threes and feeding Ayton for a layup that all but closed the curtains.
Shooting nearly 59% from the field, the Lakers showed composure and teamwork despite being short-handed. It was a performance that reminded everyone why depth matters — and why opportunity can turn a little-known player into the night’s biggest star.
Nick Smith Jr. may not have been the name fans expected to be chanting, but by the end of the night in Portland, he was the one everyone was talking about.
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