The Los Angeles Lakers played an outstanding game on Thursday night, defeating the defending NBA champions, the Boston Celtics, with a score of 117-96.
The Lakers played one of their best games of the season, improving to a 24-18 record and securing fifth place in the Western Conference.
LeBron James led the way for the Lakers, finishing with 20 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists, showing his usual all-around ability. A dunk in the second quarter showed that, even at 39 years old, LeBron still has a lot of energy.
Anthony Davis was a strong presence inside, contributing 24 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks.
The Lakers used a bigger lineup, with Davis playing alongside Rui Hachimura, which worked well. Hachimura added 10 points and seven rebounds, helping out on both ends of the court.
Austin Reaves Continues His Strong Season
Austin Reaves kept up his career-best season, scoring 23 points and dishing out six assists. His consistent play has been one of the Lakers’ best features this season, and he played a key role in their win over the Celtics.
Bronny James walks on the court in the 1st half
On defense, the Lakers shut down the Celtics’ offense. Jayson Tatum had a tough time, finishing with only 16 points, and Jaylen Brown scored just 17.
The Celtics’ 96 points were their second-lowest total of the season, as the Lakers’ defense made it difficult for them to score.
Bronny James Gets His Chance
With the game well in hand, rookie Bronny James, LeBron’s son, got his chance to play. Fans had been asking head coach Darvin Ham to let Bronny play, and he got a few minutes on the court, creating a memorable moment on an already successful night for the Lakers.
This victory shows that the Lakers are finding their rhythm as the season reaches its halfway point. With a 24-18 record, they are six games above .500, matching their best record of the season.
With their momentum, the Lakers will look to keep it going when they play the Golden State Warriors on Saturday, hoping to continue climbing in the competitive Western Conference.
LeBron James was the driving force behind the Los Angeles Lakers’ 111-88 victory over the Washington Wizards. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer recorded 21 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds, achieving his 121st career triple-double. Despite a long trip to Atlanta the day before to watch his Ohio State Buckeyes win the College Football Playoff, James showed no signs of fatigue, leading his team with ease.
Davis and Role Players Shine in Lakers’ Victory
Anthony Davis was also pivotal in the Lakers’ win, scoring 29 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. Role players Dorian Finney-Smith and Austin Reaves provided valuable support, each contributing 16 points. Finney-Smith also hit four 3-pointers, adding extra firepower to the Lakers’ offense. Together, they ensured the Lakers easily overcame the Wizards, extending their dominance.
LeBron James (NBA)
Wizards Extend Losing Streak to 11 Games
The Wizards have now lost 11 straight games, falling further behind in the standings. Bilal Coulibaly led Washington with 17 points, while Jordan Poole and Corey Kispert each scored 15. However, the Wizards’ struggles continued on the road, where they are now 1-18. They remain winless since January 1, further adding to their woes.
LeBron James took charge in the second quarter, scoring 10 points to help the Lakers pull away. He completed his triple-double with 3:19 left in the game, moving past Scottie Pippen for 7th place in NBA history for career steals.
The Lakers will host the Boston Celtics on Thursday, while the Wizards face the Clippers in their next matchup.
; Los Angeles Lakers guard Quincy Olivari before the game
The Los Angeles Lakers have re-signed undrafted guard Quincy Olivari, a fan favorite who spent much of his time with their G League team, the South Bay Lakers. Olivari was waived by the Lakers last week, but he had been playing with the South Bay Lakers in the G League, where he averaged 17.2 points, including 40.6 percent from three-point range, 4.4 assists, and 4.4 rebounds.
Interest from Other Teams
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson reported that several teams were considering signing Olivari, who played at Xavier University before entering the NBA.
Olivari Talks About His Lakers Experience
In a recent interview with Robinson, Olivari shared his thoughts about his time with the Lakers before re-signing with the organization.
“It was great being here, especially being around a storied franchise like the Los Angeles Lakers,” Olivari told ScoopB.com by phone.
“I loved being in the facility every day around legends because I was able to ask questions and learn. More importantly, I enjoyed being around a legend in LeBron James and seeing how he approaches the game even in preseason games which is remarkable. He’s a guy that shows up every day and he’s literally the blueprint for how a player should approach the game.
Quincy Olivari (NBA)
It’s something I was excited to watch and I’m glad I was able to experience it. The formula and recipe was right in front of me. I’m going to miss the games and the energy from the fans at South Bay games too. The fan’s support and the energy was unmatched.”
Olivari’s Summer League and Preseason Performance
Olivari first joined the Lakers for the 2024 NBA Summer League and was then signed to an exhibit-10 contract. Before the start of the 2024-25 season, his contract was changed to a two-way deal.
During the preseason, Olivari stood out with his impressive shooting performance. In four games, he scored a total of 35 points on 12-for-13 shooting from the field, 8-for-14 from the three-point line, along with 14 rebounds and four assists. Although the sample size was small, his ability to shoot was clear.
In his individual outings, Olivari averaged 8.8 points and 3.5 rebounds in 13.4 minutes per game. He shot 52.2 percent from the field and 57.7 percent from three across four games.
Conclusion
Despite his recent waiver, Quincy Olivari’s impressive performances in the G League and preseason earned him another chance with the Lakers. His skills, particularly his shooting, made a positive impression on both fans and the Lakers organization.
Lakers forward LeBron James, center, shoots between Clippers forwards Kawhi Leonard
The instrumental track behind one of Los Angeles’ biggest songs played over the Intuit Dome’s top-of-the-line sound system late in the first half — a fitting tune for what had been happening on the court.
Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” wasn’t aimed at the Lakers, and he didn’t even need to rap the chorus for the point to be made clear.
The Clippers, with all their strengths, have turned out to be one of the surprises of the NBA season. Meanwhile, the Lakers continue to struggle with problems they haven’t been able to solve, and without major roster changes, these issues may continue to hold them back.
Defensive pressure across the court? The Lakers don’t bring that. Consistent toughness and size? The Clippers have it.
A clear offensive identity and team commitment? The Lakers lack that too. “I consider them a great team,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said.
The scoreboard showed the clear difference during the Clippers’ 116-102 win on Sunday, their first matchup of the season.
The Lakers have higher expectations due to their star players and moves they’ve made on the trade market, but the Clippers played on Sunday with the confidence of a team that knows who they are and what they want.
The best basketball from the Clippers came when the game was nearly decided. Late in the third quarter, with a “Let’s go Lakers” chant ringing out in a crowd mostly cheering for the Clippers, the Lakers made a push, cutting a 26-point lead down to 11.
Clippers guard James Harden, right, drives against Lakers guard Max Christie during the first half
However, LeBron James, who had been leading the charge during that stretch, missed three easy shots at the basket when the Lakers needed to be perfect to truly have a shot at a comeback.
They weren’t perfect.
James led the Lakers (22-18) with 25 points and 11 assists, while Rui Hachimura added 19 points. But no other Lakers player stepped up offensively, including Anthony Davis, who finished with 16 points on 5-of-14 shooting. Austin Reaves had 14 points but only created six shots. He also hobbled off the court after appearing to injure his knee while fighting for a rebound in the fourth quarter.
Reaves said he expected to be fine.
The Lakers’ weaknesses were clear. They tried to stop Ivica Zubac from dominating the paint, but the former Laker took advantage of their lack of size, finishing with 21 points and 19 rebounds. The Lakers need more playmaking help for Reaves and James, as the two primary ball handlers each accounted for five of the Lakers’ 17 turnovers.
They also need more defensive toughness to make it harder for teams like the Clippers, who score from the perimeter, to shoot nearly 53%.
“They capitalized off our turnovers and mistakes defensively,” James said. “It’s a great team. Very well coached. Hall of Famers, great complementary players, Norm Powell having a great season, Big Zu, big time…
“You know, when you’re playing against a great team, you gotta limit your mistakes, offensively and defensively. ‘Cause they make you pay, and I think they did that tonight.”
As for the Clippers, many believe they won’t make any big moves at the trade deadline, despite having players that other NBA teams want. Their main focus will be reintegrating Kawhi Leonard as they try to keep him healthy for the rest of the season.
Kawhi Leonard (NBA)
Leonard played 24 minutes and 17 seconds — his most this season — as he continues to recover from knee problems that have bothered him throughout his time with the Clippers. He scored 19 points on just 13 shots, including three assists early in the first quarter to help set the tone for the Clippers.
“We knew coming into the season that we can be great defensively and that’s going to give us a chance every night. That’s what we have been doing all year along,” Zubac said. “Kawhi is getting back. He’s being aggressive. He’s looking good and when the minutes restrictions goes away, we’re going to be a tough team to beat.”
Powell finished with 22 points, and James Harden had 21 points and 12 assists for the Clippers (24-17).
The Clippers’ schedule could take some shine off their recent dominance, as they’ve won their last three games by an average of 34 points. They will play five times this week due to schedule changes after wildfire postponements.
The Lakers, on the other hand, have two more games at home before starting their annual Grammy road trip, with games against Washington on Tuesday and the Celtics on Thursday.
“I think we are growing and we all know that during the growth process you have some bumps and that’s OK,” Redick said. “That’s OK. … We’re together and we’re connected certainly more times than not. And we’ll continue to grow and build. But there was some good stuff tonight.”
The Lakers are not where they want to be, especially when it comes to establishing a consistent identity. When facing a team like the Clippers, who know exactly what they stand for, the differences are clear.
The Los Angeles Lakers, who called Inglewood home for 32 seasons and won six NBA championships there, will return to the city on Sunday, this time as visitors.
The Lakers will travel to the new $2 billion arena of the Los Angeles Clippers, located just a mile away from The Forum, the Lakers’ former home. This game will also be the first of four matchups between the two teams this season, with all games wrapping up by March 2.
The Lakers come into the game after winning two straight, including a close 102-101 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. In that game, star player Anthony Davis watched from the bench due to plantar fasciitis. The Lakers almost lost an eight-point lead with 3:45 left but managed to hold on. Austin Reaves scored a career-high 38 points, with 15 of them coming in the final quarter. LeBron James added 29 points and eight assists.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick expects Davis to return on Sunday.
Reaves, who was filling in for Davis, has taken on a larger role in the offense since the trade of point guard D’Angelo Russell to the Nets on December 29. LeBron James praised Reaves for stepping up and said, “He’s in his process and he’s taking the opportunity and running with it, literally running with it.
And I love every moment that he’s given the opportunity to go out and showcase his talent with the best players in the world, and he’s showing every night that he belongs. It’s a beautiful thing to see.”
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard looks on during the second half of an NBA basketball game
The Clippers, on a three-game winning streak, recently crushed the Nets 126-67 on Wednesday. Brooklyn then almost pulled off an upset against the Lakers.
The Clippers’ most recent win was a 118-89 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday. Norman Powell led the team with 23 points, and James Harden added 19. The Clippers shot 56.4% from the floor, including 43.5% from beyond the arc.
Kawhi Leonard, who has played in only four games this season due to knee issues, sat out against Portland on the second night of a back-to-back. However, he returned to the court with a season-high 23 points against the Nets, shooting 8-of-11 from the field.
Leonard is expected to play against the Lakers, having logged a season-high 24 minutes in the previous game. Head coach Tyronn Lue has encouraged Leonard to take on a bigger role in the offense.
Leonard commented on his performance, saying, “It felt good, but like I said before, I’m taking my time. Just because I made shots doesn’t mean (everything), to me at least. It’s about how I’m moving and feeling. We pushed my minutes up from the last three, so tonight I was able to play 24 minutes. (Lue) allowed me to bring the ball up and get us into the pace of the offense. I thought that helped a little bit.”
The Clippers now face a tough stretch of games, playing four games in five nights. After facing the Lakers on Sunday, they will quickly turn around to play the Chicago Bulls on Monday, followed by games against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday and the Washington Wizards on Thursday. All these games will be at home, where the Clippers have a strong 14-6 record.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis is introduced before an NBA basketball game
Lakers center Anthony Davis missed just his third game of the season after being a late scratch from the lineup before Friday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets.
Davis was listed as out 40 minutes before the game started because of plantar fasciitis in his left foot.
Coach JJ Redick explained after the Lakers’ 102-101 win that Davis was kept out as a precaution. Redick also mentioned that he expected Davis to be ready for Sunday’s game against the LA Clippers.
This game will mark the Lakers’ first visit to the Clippers’ new Intuit Dome arena in Inglewood. The arena is located less than a mile from the Forum, which served as the Lakers’ home from 1967 until 1999.
Anthony Davis (NBA)
The Lakers have a 2-1 record this season when Davis is unable to play. He missed a game on November 6 against Memphis due to a bruised left heel and also missed the January 2 game against Minnesota because of a sprained left ankle.
Davis is currently ranked 11th in the league for scoring, averaging 25.8 points per game. Additionally, he is fifth in rebounds, with an average of 11.9 per game.
In Davis’ absence, Jaxson Hayes made his third start of the season. Hayes finished the game with six points and nine rebounds in 33 minutes of play.
LeBron James, D'Angelo Russell and Anthony Davis (NBA)
NBA teams usually try to avoid distractions, but on Monday, the Lakers welcomed one.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis had to leave their homes due to fires, while JJ Redick lost his. The fires haven’t even started to be rebuilt, and the strong winds kept many in the city nervous.
However, Redick, one of the most well-known faces of the fires, saw this as an opportunity to think about something else, even if just for a while.
“I think a group functions best when you draw strength from each other. And the way my players, my staff, the organization has supported, rallied around me — rallied around the city, clearly — loved on my family, there’s real strength in that.
And that’s the sort of receiving of strength. Then it’s our job to go give strength, and give hope and give joy,” Redick said before the game. “Sports are a lot of things and sports can certainly provide an escape and a distraction and hopefully sports, and tonight, can provide some joy as well.”
In that sense, the game was a success — fans enjoyed watching James and Davis try to deal with Victor Wembanyama’s towering 7-foot-3 frame after the Lakers’ last two games had been postponed due to the fires.
However, the distraction didn’t fix the Lakers’ problems on the basketball court. The Spurs played with more toughness, taking control of the game and winning 126-102, handing the Lakers their third straight loss, at a time when the events off the court seemed more important.
“I’ve been thinking about that a lot. Just, we come out and play — win, lose, draw — this game is over and everything’s still going on in the world,” Davis said. “So, bittersweet in a sense because we still have people who are dealing with real-life situations. And we get to go out here and play basketball. So it’s kinda tough.
“Obviously, we still have a job to do and at some point, we’re going to have to play basketball again, go back to work. We tried to, obviously, get this win. We never want to lose. But with the Rams winning and … us trying to, get the win and bring a little bit of joy to the city, for a little bit.”
Anthony Davis (NBA)
Davis and James combined for 48 points on 20-for-29 shooting, but the Lakers’ other players struggled. Austin Reaves became a target for the Spurs after they pulled Davis away from the rim. The Spurs pushed through players like Rui Hachimura and Max Christie.
The Lakers didn’t respond well, allowing 73 points in the second half.
“The point of attack was not good tonight, and I’ll have to look at the film,” Redick said. “I turned to [assistant Ty Abbott], who had the scout today, and I just was like, ‘Man, feels like there’s no one to the paint for us.’ That’s what I saw in real time. Obviously, I’ll have to look at the tape, but everything was at the rim — 66 points in the paint. That’s tough.”
The loss was made worse by the Lakers’ poor offense in the fourth quarter when they scored just 13 points.
Trouble for the Lakers came late in the third quarter when they were up by 10. San Antonio went on a 10-point run without Redick or the bench calling a timeout. The Spurs kept their momentum going into the fourth.
“We were eager to play basketball again in front of our fans. Sucks that we weren’t able to get to win,” Davis said.
In addition to their first game back after the wildfire delays, the Lakers also held a planned celebration for their past.
At halftime, the team retired Michael Cooper’s No. 21 jersey. This honor came after Cooper earned a spot in the 2024 Basketball Hall of Fame class. Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Jamaal Wilkes, Norm Nixon, Byron Scott, and Pat Riley were among the former Lakers who attended the ceremony.
Cooper had been part of many celebrations for others; this was his turn.
Lebron James- Los Angeles Lakers
“I’ve always tried to play the game the right way. And it’s such a good feeling that people recognize that,” Cooper said. “Although I’ve always been on a team with a lot of mega stars, so sometimes I got overshadowed, but that didn’t bother me because it was about the body of work that we were putting together and winning championships.
So for my turn to be, come to the plate and step up here and be on the podium by myself with everybody looking is very, very good. Because again, like I said, this came out of nowhere.”
That celebration was one of the few positive moments of the night. But it wasn’t the last.
As the Lakers walked off the court feeling defeated, Redick went to midcourt where Wembanyama and Chris Paul gave Redick’s sons, Knox and Kai, their jerseys. The boys had lost many of their cherished memorabilia in the Palisades fire.
“[Chris Paul] called me this afternoon and said, ‘Vic and I are gonna go, whether you win or we win, we’re gonna go over and give the boys jerseys,’” Redick said. “He’s well-aware they’re huge NBA fans. … I ran a podcast out of my home for two years and all the players would come through and they would get either a jersey or a card signed.
They had a collection of jerseys and cards, and they lost all that. So it was nice of them to do it. They now each have two because Austin [Reaves] was nice enough to leave a couple for them in his locker after practice the other day. So I just, again, appreciate all the love.”
It was a reminder that, despite the tough game, it was still nice to return to basketball. But the road back wasn’t easy.
The Los Angeles Lakers made a big move in the trade market on Sunday, sending D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton.
This move was expected, as the Lakers were looking to add players who could help them win right away, while the Nets were getting assets for a veteran player who wasn’t part of their future plans. The details of the trade could offer some clues about what might happen across the league before the NBA trade deadline on February 6.
On Thursday, well-known NBA insider Marc Stein reported that the Memphis Grizzlies were “a team to watch” for Finney-Smith. Stein mentioned on Saturday that the Grizzlies were having “active discussions” with the Nets about trading John Konchar and Luke Kennard for Finney-Smith.
However, the Lakers made a better offer by including three future second-round picks, all of which will come after LeBron James is expected to retire.
According to Stein, the Nets had hoped to get a first-round pick from the Grizzlies for Finney-Smith, but the Grizzlies wanted to protect the pick by placing a top-17 protection on it. Stein also mentioned that the Nets would have had to take on extra salary and send one or two second-round picks to the Grizzlies in the Finney-Smith deal.
D’Angelo Russell (NBA)
Earlier this month, the Nets also traded Dennis Schröder to the Golden State Warriors for an expiring contract (De’Anthony Melton) and three second-round picks. However, the Nets had told teams since last season that they wanted a first-round pick for either Schröder or Finney-Smith, according to Stein.
The Nets’ inability to get a first-round pick for either player could provide some clues about the trade situation under the league’s new collective bargaining agreement.
Finney-Smith and Schröder aren’t the only important players who have been traded for multiple second-round picks instead of a first-rounder since the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) began before the 2023-24 season.
Last year, the Philadelphia 76ers traded three second-round picks to get Buddy Hield in a three-team deal. The Phoenix Suns did the same for Royce O’Neale.
The Chicago Bulls asked for three second-round picks for Andre Drummond, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. The Sixers “believed they had a trade done” to get him, but the Bulls “pulled out of talks hours before the deadline,” causing the Sixers to turn to Hield instead.
Drummond later signed with the Sixers in free agency this past offseason, leaving the Bulls without anything in return.
The Bulls’ experience with Drummond might have been a warning for the Nets. Schröder will be a free agent this offseason, and Finney-Smith might also leave if he turns down his $15.4 million player option for the 2025-26 season.
To avoid losing either player for nothing, the Nets accepted six second-round picks instead of holding firm on their first-round pick demand.
Finney-Smith (NBA)
Teams may be less willing to trade first-round picks because of the new CBA, which brings heavy restrictions for the league’s highest-spending teams. Teams above the first and second luxury tax aprons have fewer options to add talent through trades and free agency, so rookie-scale contracts are becoming more valuable.
The new CBA also makes second-round picks more appealing by introducing a rule that allows teams above the salary cap to sign second-round picks to three- or four-year contracts without using an exception. This rule may have made teams more open to accepting multiple second-round picks, especially since first-round picks may not be as easy to trade.
The Trade Market Going Forward
Since the new CBA began, only a few first-round picks have been traded, mostly in deals for star players. The value of contracts is also affecting how much teams are willing to give up in draft picks. The New York Knicks traded five first-round picks to acquire Mikal Bridges, who is on a great contract of four years for $90.9 million.
But they didn’t give up any first-round picks for Karl-Anthony Towns, who is in the first year of a four-year, $220.4 million supermax contract.
The Mavericks gave up Grant Williams, Seth Curry, and a 2027 first-round pick to get P.J. Washington at last year’s trade deadline. The Charlotte Hornets also gave the Mavericks two second-round picks in that deal.
The Mavericks also traded a 2028 first-round pick swap to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a 2024 first-rounder, which they used in another trade to acquire Daniel Gafford. These moves helped the Mavericks make an unexpected run to the NBA Finals last year.
Dallas Mavericks (NBA)
The Mavericks’ aggressive moves last season might inspire other teams to make similar trades this year, but not all teams have a superstar like Luka Dončić.
The Lakers are pushing for a championship with LeBron James nearing the end of his career, but they’ve been hesitant to give up their future first-round picks. The Golden State Warriors might feel the same way with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green in their mid-30s.
Several teams that are hoping for a title have already traded away many of their future first-round picks, which is slowing down the trade market. The Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks each have only one first-round pick (2031) they can trade this season.
The Minnesota Timberwolves can only trade a 2028 first-round pick swap and a protected 2025 first-round pick from the Detroit Pistons. The New York Knicks have a protected 2025 first-round pick from the Washington Wizards, but they can only trade 2026 and 2030 first-round pick swaps.
LeBron James’ first back-to-back games since turning 40 will wrap up on Friday when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Atlanta Hawks.
In Thursday’s 114-106 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, James showed he is up for the challenge, scoring 38 points and tying Michael Jordan for the most 30-point games in NBA history with 562.
Adding to the difficulty, star player Anthony Davis was absent due to a sprained left ankle. Davis, who injured the ankle on Christmas Day against the Golden State Warriors, might return as soon as Friday.
James started the first of two games in two days with strong energy.
“You have a guy out who is averaging 25-plus points, with rebounds and blocks, A.D. is our No. 1, No. 2 option so when he’s out, you have to go step up your game, including myself,” James said. “I think everybody pitched in on that end.”
James made a season-high seven 3-pointers out of 10 attempts, his third most this season.
“I like when he’s a willing 3-point shooter,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick said. “We want him aggressive (and) shot ready from three as much as we want him to get downhill and put pressure on the rim.”
Max Christie also played a key role, scoring a career-high 28 points and making 5 of 9 3-pointers. Austin Reaves stepped up in his bigger offensive role, adding 11 assists and 15 points.
Christie will be important again on Friday, especially in defense as he helps guard Trae Young of the Hawks. Despite Young’s scoring average of 22.3 points per game being the lowest since his rookie season, he has surpassed that average in six of his last seven games.
Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat
Young recently scored 30 points in a 139-120 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday. De’Andre Hunter added 20 points off the bench as the Hawks’ four-game winning streak ended. Atlanta struggled with 3-point shooting, making only 16 of 46 attempts (34.8%).
The Hawks were missing Bogdan Bogdanovic (leg contusion) and Jalen Johnson (shoulder soreness), leaving two key scorers sidelined. However, it was their lack of urgency in transition defense that hurt them the most.
“You’re always going to have players out,” Hawks head coach Quin Snyder said, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Obviously, Jalen’s a good player but really, if we would have had urgency in (defensive) transition, anyone can do that. That was where we weren’t urgent out of the gate.”
Friday’s game is Atlanta’s third of a six-game road trip. It will be a rematch of the December 6 game, when the Lakers won 134-132 in overtime. In that game, Young had 31 points and 20 assists, while James posted a triple-double with 39 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds.
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.
LeBron James reacts in the 1st half
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.
After the Los Angeles Lakers showed off their new look with mixed results on New Year’s Eve, they will return to the court on Thursday to play the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Lakers lost 122-110 at home to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who currently have the best record in the NBA, in their first game since trading reserve point guard D’Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets and giving Austin Reaves a bigger role.
Reaves stepped up in the new role, scoring 35 points, adding 10 assists, and grabbing nine rebounds. Anthony Davis contributed 28 points and 13 rebounds, while LeBron James scored 23 points in his first game after turning 40 on Monday.
Though the Lakers lost for the second time in seven games, they seemed to play more as a team compared to their 134-110 loss at Cleveland on October 30.
“I think we’re trending in the right direction,” Davis said after Los Angeles made just 9 of 35 (25.7 percent) shots from 3-point range. “We just missed a ton of shots, wide-open looks that we missed. We make half of those, it’s a different game. … I think we could definitely be better on both ends of the floor, but I’m not disappointed where we are right now.”
Dorian Finney-Smith, who was traded from the Nets in the Russell deal, made his Lakers debut but played a quiet 20 minutes. He went 1 for 4 from the field, finishing with two points, two rebounds, and two assists.
“It was fun,” Finney-Smith said. “Energy was amazing in there. What I expected. The building was rocking, but we didn’t get the win.”
Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets
The Trail Blazers had recently won two straight games but were defeated 125-103 at home by the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday. Anfernee Simons led Portland with 25 points, and Deni Avdija added 17.
Portland made just 8 of 36 (22.2 percent) of their 3-point shots, well below their season average of 33.1 percent. Avdija committed 10 of the Blazers’ 26 turnovers, which the 76ers turned into 36 points.
“I’m taking responsibility,” Avdija said. “I’ve never had that amount. The ball was not in my hands very good today.”
Avdija was starting in place of Jerami Grant, who missed the game due to a face injury. Without Grant’s 15.0 points per game, Portland struggled in the third quarter, getting outscored 27-18 as the game slipped away.
“It’s one of those games that when you have all those things working against you at one time, you usually have a scary night,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said.
Billups returned after missing the two victories to attend his grandmother’s funeral. Robert Williams III (ankle) played again, but Dalano Banton (hip) missed his third straight game.
This will be the second meeting between the teams this season, with the Lakers winning 107-98 over the Blazers on December 8 in Los Angeles. James missed that game with foot soreness, and Rui Hachimura stepped up with a season-high 23 points.
Jarrett Allen had a season-high 27 points and 14 rebounds to help the Cleveland Cavaliers secure their eighth straight win, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 122-110 on Tuesday.
Donovan Mitchell contributed 26 points for the Cavaliers, who were playing the second game of a back-to-back.
Cleveland came out strong, building a 15-point lead halfway through the first quarter. The Lakers briefly took the lead in the second quarter, but Cleveland controlled most of the game.
Allen made 12 of 14 shots, leading the Cavaliers’ inside scoring. Mitchell helped from beyond the arc, hitting 6 of 13 three-pointers, as the team finished 39.1 percent (18 of 46) from long range.
Max Strus scored 15 points off the bench, including 3 three-pointers in a key stretch in the third quarter. His shooting, along with another three-pointer from Darius Garland, helped spark a 12-2 run for Cleveland.
Donovan Mitchell celebrates after hitting a 3-point basket in the 2nd half
Later, a 17-2 run, starting in the third quarter and continuing into the fourth, pushed the Cavaliers’ lead to as much as 16 points. Mitchell hit half of his six three-pointers during this run, and Georges Niang contributed with two three-pointers off the bench, finishing with nine points. Evan Mobley added 20 points and six rebounds.
For the Lakers, Austin Reaves matched his career-high with 35 points and added 10 assists and nine rebounds. Anthony Davis also had a strong game, scoring 28 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and blocking two shots. LeBron James scored 23 points and provided seven assists, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Cleveland.
Reaves, Davis, and James were the only Lakers in double figures. Shake Milton and Dorian Finney-Smith, who made their Lakers debuts after being traded from Brooklyn, contributed six and two points off the bench, respectively.
