2 minSports
Morant and Lillard lead unbeaten Trail Blazers past Lakers 136-129
Ja Morant and Damian Lillard powered the unbeaten Portland Trail Blazers to a 136-129 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, despite 41 points from Luka Doncic.
Ja Morant and Deni Avdija each scored 23 points, and Damian Lillard added 21, as the Portland Trail Blazers remained unbeaten with a 136-129 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night. Lillard's 3-pointer with 43 seconds left helped Portland hold off a determined Lakers comeback attempt.
Luka Doncic led Los Angeles with 41 points and nine assists, but the effort was not enough to overturn the result. The Lakers had kept the game close for much of the night, and Doncic's production kept them in contention until the closing minutes.
The win extends Portland's perfect start to the season and gives the Trail Blazers an early-season statement victory on the road against a high-profile opponent. Several outlets covering the game described it as a battle between two unbeaten teams in Los Angeles, underscoring the significance of the matchup for both sides in the early standings.
For the Lakers, the loss drops them from the ranks of the unbeaten, leaving them with questions to answer about their defense after allowing 136 points. Doncic's scoring output was the central storyline for Los Angeles, even as the team struggled to stop Portland's guards in the decisive stretches.
Portland's balance was the difference. Morant and Avdija each contributed 23 points, while Lillard's veteran shot-making closed out the game. The Trail Blazers will look to keep their momentum going as the early part of the schedule continues.
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