Lakers Game Observations: Game 4 vs Trail Blazers
Trail Blazers hand Lakers their first loss in a wild shootout
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Trail Blazers hand Lakers their first loss in a wild shootout
Ja Morant celebrates Damian Lillard’s game‑winning three with the signature “Dame Time” gesture as the Portland Trail Blazers rally to a 136‑129 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 28, 2026. Lillard finishes with 21 points, while Morant adds 23 and Deni Avdija 23 as Portland improves to 3‑0. The post‑game celebration prompts two courtside fans to ‘rage quit.’ Morant, who joined Portland via a trade for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, says the duo’s chemistry is a “pick your fighter or pick your poison” situation. The Blazers host Memphis next Friday.
The Los Angeles Lakers lost their first game of the season 136-129 to the Portland Trail Blazers. It was a reminder of why JJ Redick focused on defense in training camp.
Damian Lillard delivers his first “Dame Time” of the season, hitting a clutch step‑back shot that puts the Portland Trail Blazers ahead by six with 42.8 seconds left in an upset win over the LA Lakers. Lillard finishes with 21 points, 10 in the fourth quarter, while Ja Morent and Deni Avdija each add 23 points and Avdija dishes out nine assists. Jrue Holiday contributes 22 off the bench. After the game, Lillard and Morant praise the decisive play, and the Blazers head home for a Thursday night matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies.
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Portland Trail Blazers guard Ja Morant declared that he plans to appeal the technical foul he was assessed for flopping late in Tuesday night's 136-129 road win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
In a matchup of two undefeated teams, the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 136-129 at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday night.
Kansas athletics dominate the Daily Mauling: football coach Lance Leipold faces mounting pressure as the Jayhawks slump to 3‑4, with a 24‑21 Orange Bowl win in 2008 highlighted by Todd Reesing’s heroics. A recent victory over Baylor offers a spark, but the defense still ranks last in Big 12 rush defense (166.9 yards allowed). Freshmen Tyran Stokes and Taylen Kinney provide bright spots, while basketball endures exhibition losses to Louisville and Duke. The post also notes ESPN’s deep dive on the Lakers’ sale and a feature on Oregon’s long‑time fan Ron McCullough.
JJ Redick and Walker Kessler make their feelings known about the Lakers' defesnive issues tonight after they suffer first defeat of the regular season.
The Lakers’ 136-129 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Oct. 27 exposes a looming defensive crisis. Despite Luka Dončić’s 41 points, 9 assists, Austin Reaves’ 26 and Sandro Mamukelashvili’s 16 off the bench, Los Angeles could not stop Portland’s perimeter barrage. Damian Lillard (21), Deni Avdija (23), Ja Morant (23) and Jrue Holiday (22) led the Blazers, while Lakers rookie Walker Kessler admits he must be more aggressive defending the ball. Coach JJ Redick cites “personnel discipline” and consistent stops as urgent fixes before the playoffs.
Three games into the Ja Morant‑Damian Lillard duo, the Trail Blazers are already showing a new late‑game edge. Portland rocks to a 3‑0 start with a 136‑129 win over the Lakers, where Morant’s 23 points on 9‑of‑13 shooting and Lillard’s deep threes sealed the final 15‑point burst. Coach Micah Nori’s emphasis on clutch lineups is paying off—Portland has gone 2‑0 in close games after a 21‑22 finish last season. The partnership isn’t flawless, but the early success suggests the Blazers can finally finish strong.
Center Walker Kessler admits the Lakers' 136-129 defeat to the Portland Trail Blazers on Oct. 26 was rooted in defensive lapses, warning that strong offense and scoring talent won’t be enough. He stressed a need for collective effort on the other end of the floor as the team reevaluates its approach.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick lashes out at his squad’s perimeter play after a 136‑129 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Oct. 28, 2026. Redick blames defensive breakdowns and sloppy execution, noting the team surrendered 18 three‑pointers and lacked discipline. He warns that immediate improvements are essential to avoid further setbacks, marking the defeat as the Lakers’ first of the season.
The Lakers fall 136-129 to the Portland Trail Blazers, snapping any hopes of an 82‑0 start. Luka Dončić lights up with 41 points, 9 assists and earns an A+ grade, while Austin Reaves adds 26 points for an A‑ rating. However defensive lapses and poor shooting hurt Los Angeles, as the team shoots 39.5% from three and allows Portland to hit 59% overall. Bench contributors receive mixed marks: Sandro Mamukelashvili (A‑, 17 points) shines, whereas Matisse Thybulle (D) and Jake LaRavia (F) struggle. The piece breaks down each player's grade after the fourth game of a largely new roster.
Luka Doncic’s 41 points and Austin Reaves’ 26 weren’t enough as the Lakers fall 136-129 to the Portland Trail Blazers, snapping a three‑game winning streak. Coach JJ Redick warned the Blazers, bolstered by Damian Lillard and Ja Morant, would test LA’s defense, and the fourth quarter proved decisive with Portland outscoring the Lakers 34-26. Morant and Deni Avdija each poured in 23, Jrue Holiday 22 and Lillard 21, sealing the win with a clutch three‑pointer under a minute left. The loss underscores that scoring alone won’t carry the Lakers; defensive improvements are now the priority.
The Portland Trail Blazers stay unbeaten after a 136-129 triumph over the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 28, 2026. Damian Lillard clinches the win with a go‑ahead three‑pointer and 12 points, while Ja Morant and Deni Avdija each add 23. Luka Doncic leads the Lakers with 41 points and nine assists, but the late shot by Lillard with 43 seconds left secures the victory.
The Lakers and Trail Blazers went back and forth all night but the former fell in the fourth quarter as they could not generate enough stops down the stretch.
The Portland Trail Blazers edged the Los Angeles Lakers 136-129 on Oct. 27 at Crypto.com Arena, snapping a streak of inconsistent play. Ja Morant led Portland with 23 points on 9‑13 shooting and four assists, while Luka Dončić sparked the Lakers before fading in the fourth quarter. Despite scoring 70% in the first half and hitting numerous threes, the Blazers struggled defensively, allowing 22 fast‑break points and fouling heavily. Coach Micah Nori rotated Deni Avdija to the second unit, where his offense shined despite middling defense. The high‑scoring win puts Portland in the national spotlight, though defensive lapses remain a concern.
The Lakers (3-1) host the Clippers (1-2) on Oct. 28 at the Intuit Dome in the second leg of the Battle of LA. After a 28‑point outing from Austin Reaves and a narrow win last week, L.A. seeks revenge, targeting the Lakers' weak rebounding with aggressive paint play from Brook Lopez and Darius Garland. Luka Dončić must bounce back from a tough performance, while Walker Kessler looks to improve on his 22‑point, 10‑for‑14 showing. Both teams play back‑to‑back; the Clippers sit without Bradley Beal and others, while the Lakers delay their injury report until tip‑off. The game tips off at 7:30 p.m. PT on Spectrum Sportsnet.
The Los Angeles Lakers couldn't get stops in a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, despite Luka Doncic's lights-out night.
Veteran Damian Lillard, 36, delivers a clutch fourth three in the final 45 seconds to seal Portland's 136-129 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 28, 2026. The shot, set up by Deni Avdija and preceded by a Ja Morant bucket, lifts the Blazers to 3‑0 season start. Lillard finishes with 21 points on 45.2% shooting, while Avdija (23), Morant (23) and Jrue Holiday (22) each hit the 20‑point mark. The performance underscores Portland’s early offensive firepower and solid defense despite a backcourt size mismatch.
Luka Doncic had another MVP-caliber performance for the Lakers but could not prevent a clutch loss against the Trail Blazers.
Damian Lillard fuels Portland's comeback, hitting a clutch three with 43 seconds left as the Trail Blazers snap Los Angeles' unbeaten streak, winning 136-129 at Crypto.com Arena on Oct. 28, 2026. Lillard finishes with 21 points, five rebounds and four assists, while Deni Avdija (23 pts, 9 ast) and Ja Morant (23 pts) lead a balanced offense. Despite Luka Doncic's 41-point, nine‑assist effort for the Lakers, Portland shoots 59% (18‑of‑36 from three) and forces 15 turnovers for 19 points. The Blazers improve to 3‑0, while the Lakers fall to 3‑1.
The Portland Trail Blazers snap to a 3-0 start with a 136-129 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 27, 2026. Ja Morant and Deni Avdija each pour in 23 points, while Jrue Holiday (22) and Damian Lillard (21) add firepower. Luka Doncic scores a game‑high 41 for the Lakers, supported by Austin Reaves’ 26, but the Blazers capitalize on his bench time and a late surge of threes to seal the victory, highlighted by Lillard’s clutch shot with 43 seconds left. The contest features heavy fouling—four players hit four fouls each—and unusual officiating, including four defensive three‑second calls and three flopping technicals. Portland’s free‑throw shooting lags at 63.4% versus L.A.’s 73.3%, yet the win lands them at home against Memphis on Oct. 29.
With Anthony Edwards and Jalen Williams sidelined, the Western Conference opens up, and the Lakers, 3‑1 early this season, see an opportunity to surge. The piece outlines three aggressive trade targets: a blockbuster swap for Giannis Antetokounmpo (or a more realistic deal for Bam Adebayo) from the struggling Miami Heat, acquiring Aaron Gordon from Denver to bolster the four‑position, and a third unspecified move involving role players like Quentin Grimes and Jarred Vanderbilt. It details salary‑matching hurdles, the Lakers' lack of future first‑round picks, and why these bold moves could cement Los Angeles as a Western powerhouse.