Deandre Ayton's 29-point, 10-rebound performance against the franchise he played for the past two seasons powered the Los Angeles Lakers to a 123-115 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night, with the shorthanded Lakers extending their winning streak to four games despite the absence of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, AP reported.
Rui Hachimura contributed 28 points while two-way contract player Nick Smith Jr. added 25 points, including consecutive late three-pointers that sealed the outcome for Los Angeles, which competed with only nine available players after both Doncic (lower left leg contusion management) and Reaves (right groin soreness) sat following Sunday's victory over Miami, according to AP. Portland received 33 points from Deni Avdija but saw its three-game winning streak end.
The Blazers built a 13-point first-half lead behind Jerami Grant's emphatic dunk, establishing a 39-29 advantage before Los Angeles rallied to trail 55-52 at halftime, AP reported. Hachimura's layup created a 66-66 tie in the third quarter before Marcus Smart's basket completed a 10-1 Lakers run that gave Los Angeles the lead.
Los Angeles carried a 90-86 edge into the fourth quarter, with Portland closing to 97-96 on Jrue Holiday's layup before the Lakers pulled away, AP reported. Ayton's layup extended the Los Angeles advantage to 107-100 as the Lakers held off Portland's comeback attempts.
The Blazers struggled throughout the contest from beyond the arc, converting just nine of 40 three-point attempts, according to AP. Smith Jr.'s pair of three-pointers in the closing minutes provided crucial separation for the Lakers.
Doncic, who recorded 29 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists against the Heat on Sunday, missed his fourth game this season due to the leg injury, while Reaves sat after posting 26 points and 11 assists in that same victory, AP reported. Ayton received game-time clearance despite back spasms and entered the starting lineup against his former team.
