LeBron James scored 38 points and had eight assists, while Max Christie added a career-high 28 points to help the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 114-106 on Thursday in Los Angeles.
Austin Reaves contributed 15 points and 11 assists as the Lakers won their sixth game in the last eight. The Lakers played without Anthony Davis, who was scratched before the game due to a left ankle sprain. Davis, who leads the team with 26.1 points and 11.6 rebounds, was missed by Los Angeles.
Anfernee Simons led the Blazers with 23 points, and Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avdija each scored 19. Portland has now lost 10 of its last 13 games. Toumani Camara scored 18 points, and Avdija grabbed 10 rebounds for Portland, which is on a seven-game road losing streak. Two of those losses came against the Lakers.
After falling behind by as much as seven points in the second quarter, the Lakers ended the first half on a 10-2 run to lead 60-51. Christie had 12 points in the second quarter alone, while James added 14.
The Lakers extended their lead to 88-75 heading into the fourth quarter, with James (nine points) and Christie (seven) leading the charge in the third.
Los Angeles went up 99-86 with 6:13 left, following Christie’s fifth 3-pointer of the game, but the Blazers fought back. Portland cut the lead to 101-97 after three free throws from Simons and two from Avdija during an 11-2 run.
Simons hit a 3-pointer to bring Portland within a point at 103-100 with 2:30 left. But James responded with five points, helping the Lakers push the lead to 110-102 with 59 seconds remaining.
Without Davis, the Lakers also got a boost from Jaxson Hayes, who returned after missing 15 games with an ankle injury. Hayes scored four points and grabbed six rebounds in 18 minutes of play.
