LeBron James Scores 38, Lakers Overcome Injuries to Beat Trail Blazers 114-106
Game Recap
LeBron James scored a season-high 38 points, Max Christie had a career-high 28, and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame the absence of Anthony Davis to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 114-106 on Thursday night.
Lakers’ Strong Performance
James hit a season-high seven 3-pointers, while Christie added five. Austin Reaves contributed 15 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds as Los Angeles hung on to beat Portland for the fifth straight time. Jaxson Hayes started in place of Davis, who sat out with a sprained left ankle, and Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton scored three and four points respectively in their second game with the Lakers.
Blazers’ Struggle
Anfernee Simons scored 11 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough for the Trail Blazers, who have lost four of six. Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avdija added 19 points apiece.
Takeaways
- Trail Blazers: The first and fourth quarters were promising, but they waited too long to get aggressive in the opener of a five-game road trip after going 3-9 in December.
- Lakers: Christie is emerging as a key contributor in his third season, scoring in double digits for the fourth time in five games, providing 3-and-D excellence.
Key Moment
Portland trailed 99-86 with 6:13 to play, but made a 14-4 run. James and Christie combined for 11 points down the stretch, capped by James’ seventh 3-pointer with 59 seconds left.
Key Stat
- 14 of 24: James’ 3-point shooting over the past four games. He turned 40 midway through this torrid stretch.
Up Next
- The Lakers host Atlanta on Friday.
- The Blazers visit Damian Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.
FAQs
Q: How many points did LeBron James score in the game?
A: 38
Q: Who started in place of Anthony Davis?
A: Jaxson Hayes
Q: What was Max Christie’s career-high score in the game?
A: 28
Q: How many 3-pointers did LeBron James hit in the game?
A: 7
