PORTLAND, Ore. — Missing three starters and trailing by double digits in the first half, the Los Angeles Lakers leaned on their bench and a dominant second half to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 123–115 on Monday night at the Moda Center.
Deandre Ayton punished his former team with 29 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks, controlling the paint on both ends in one of his most complete performances of the season. Rui Hachimura scored 28 points and knocked down several mid-range jumpers that helped the Lakers steady themselves after a shaky start. Rookie guard Nick Smith Jr. delivered his best game as a pro with 25 points, including a pair of clutch 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, as Los Angeles outscored Portland 36–25 in the final period.
The Lakers played without Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, who both sat for injury management. LeBron James remained sidelined with lingering back spasms, leaving Los Angeles without its three leading playmakers. Early on, the absence showed. Portland jumped out to a 13-point lead in the first half behind Deni Avdija, who attacked the rim and finished with 33 points. But Los Angeles closed the second quarter on a 10-2 run, trimming the deficit to three at halftime and shifting momentum they would carry the rest of the night.
Ayton was the focal point in the third quarter, scoring out of post-ups, rolling to the rim and getting to the line as the Lakers methodically erased the deficit. Forced to collapse on Ayton, Portland opened the perimeter, where Smith hit a transition 3 and Hachimura knocked down a corner jumper that gave Los Angeles its first lead since the opening minutes.
Portland struggled from deep, shooting just 9 for 40 from behind the arc. The Blazers had multiple chances to tie the game late, but missed open 3s in the closing minutes. Los Angeles, meanwhile, went to Ayton and Hachimura on nearly every possession, bleeding the clock and scoring efficiently in the halfcourt.
With under two minutes left, Smith drilled his second long 3 of the quarter to push the Lakers ahead by eight and quiet the Portland crowd. From there, Ayton sealed it with a put-back dunk and a pair of free throws.
Despite missing key stars, the Lakers shot more than 50 percent from the field and scored 60 points in the paint. The win ended a two-game road trip and continued a stretch of improved late-game execution, something the team struggled with earlier in the season.
Los Angeles returns home Wednesday to host the San Antonio Spurs. Portland, whose three-game winning streak was snapped, will host Oklahoma City next.