US EditionLakers Overcome Absence of Doncic, Reaves for 123-115 Win over Blazers
Despite missing key players Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves due to injuries, the Lakers secured a 123-115 road win with strong performances from Deandre Ayton and others.
- On Monday, the Los Angeles Lakers announced Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves will be sidelined, but Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura led a 123-115 win over the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center.
- Luka Doncic is sidelined for lower left leg contusion management, and Austin Reaves missed time due to right groin soreness after nearly 40 minutes in Sunday's 130-120 win over the Miami Heat.
- Deandre Ayton started despite back spasms, providing interior scoring and defense while Nick Smith Jr., two-way contract signee, scored 25 and hit back-to-back 3-pointers late, with Marcus Smart, guard, and Jake LaRavia, reserve forward, delivering defensive playmaking.
- Down to nine available players, the Los Angeles Lakers relied on reserves to secure their fourth straight win, improving to a 6-2 overall record and staying undefeated 4-0 on the road.
- The Lakers return to Southern California to host the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday and expect more information on Austin Reaves' status on Tuesday; Maxi Kleber remains sidelined and Deandre Ayton is questionable.
49 Articles
49 Articles
Who is Nick Smith Jr.? Lakers Unsung Hero Makes Franchise History
With Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, LeBron James and Gabe Vincent sidelined, the Los Angeles Lakers desperately needed a shot in the arm against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night. That’s exactly what unheralded guard Nick Smith Jr. provided, as he dropped 25 points in his team’s 123-115 victory.Smith shot an impressive 10-of-15 from the field and 5-of-6 from three, including 10 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Lakers escape Portla…
The Lakers initialled in Portland their fourth consecutive victory (123-115), the most meritorious of the season under the circumstances in which they faced the crash, with only nine players available and the casualties of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, the two players who had pulled the Angelinos in this convulsive start of course without LeBron James.wf_cms.rss.read_more
Nick Smith Jr, Lakers stun Blazers without injured James, Doncic and Reaves
Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura and Nick Smith Jr all achieved season-best point totals as the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers notched a 123-115 victory over the hosts Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night. Ayton had 29 points on 14-of-19 shooting and collected 10 rebounds and three blocked shots against his former teammates. Hachimura had 28 points on 10-of-15 shooting. Little-known guard Smith was the biggest surprise with 25 points on 10-of-15 …
Daily Breeze
San Gabriel Valley TribuneShort-handed Lakers beat Blazers for 4th straight win
PORTLAND, Ore. — It wasn’t a case of deja vu, because the situation the Lakers were in on Monday night was eerily similar to exactly one week ago. They were once again down most of their ball-handlers against a stingy Portland Trail Blazers team – with Marcus Smart replacing Austin Reaves (groin soreness) as the team’s primary ball-handler. But unlike a week ago, when they needed every bit of Reaves’ 41-point performance to make the game competi…
Henry Herald
Lakers, minus mainstays, surge past Trail Blazers
Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura and Nick Smith Jr. all achieved season-best point totals as the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers notched a 123-115 victory over the host Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night.
Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves rested, LeBron James is still injured, and the Los Angeles Lakers used many reserves to defeat Portland at the Moda Center (115:123). The Lakers are still undefeated on the road this season.
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