NBA
Lakers Take First Loss as Trail Blazers Win 136–129 Despite Dončić’s 41
Portland scored 34 in the fourth and won the bench matchup 48–33. Dončić had 41 points and nine assists as Los Angeles fell to 3–1.
The Los Angeles Lakers suffered their first loss of the season despite 41 points from Luka Dončić, falling 136–129 to the Portland Trail Blazers at crypto.com Arena in a game that began Tuesday, October 27.
Damian Lillard’s step-back 3-pointer with 43.1 seconds remaining gave Portland a 135–129 lead. The Trail Blazers improved to 3–0, while Los Angeles dropped to 3–1 after being outscored 34–26 in the fourth quarter.
Deni Avdija and Ja Morant scored 23 points apiece for Portland. Jrue Holiday added 22 off the bench, Lillard finished with 21 and the Trail Blazers overcame Lakers leads after each of the first three quarters.
Quarter-by-quarter scoring
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland Trail Blazers | 32 | 36 | 34 | 34 | 136 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 38 | 35 | 30 | 26 | 129 |
The Lakers’ early leads narrow
Los Angeles scored 38 points in the opening quarter and led by six. Portland scored 36 in the second, but Sandro Mamukelashvili’s 26-foot 3-pointer with 0.3 seconds left gave the Lakers a 73–68 halftime lead. Holiday had been charged with a flagrant foul on Kessler with 5.2 seconds left; Kessler made one of the two free throws before Mamukelashvili’s shot.
The Trail Blazers won the third quarter 34–30, cutting the Lakers’ advantage to 103–102. Portland then moved ahead in the fourth as Lillard, Toumani Camara and Avdija each made a 3-pointer. Avdija’s shot at 7:56 gave the visitors a 114–106 lead.
Mamukelashvili and Kessler scored inside as Los Angeles recovered, then Austin Reaves made consecutive baskets to tie the game at 116 with 5:33 remaining. Ziaire Williams’ 3-pointer put the Lakers ahead 120–118 at 4:43.
Portland answers the Lakers’ last lead
Holiday’s 3-pointer returned the lead to Portland. Reaves tied it at 121, but the Lakers did not lead again. Lillard made a 3-pointer and the free throw following Williams’ flopping technical foul, and Avdija answered a Dončić 3 with another from 28 feet.
Williams brought Los Angeles within 128–127 on another 3-pointer with 2:36 left. Morant responded with an 11-foot floater. Kessler then missed two free throws, and Morant’s turnaround jumper at 1:24 pushed Portland’s lead to five.
Dončić’s pullup basket made it 132–129 with 1:06 remaining, but Lillard’s step-back 3 restored a six-point margin. The Lakers missed their final three shots after that basket. Holiday’s free throw with 18.3 seconds left supplied the final point.
Dončić’s 41 and Portland’s bench advantage
Dončić made 12 of 22 shots, including six 3-pointers, and added nine assists and five rebounds in 36:45. Reaves finished with 26 points, seven assists and four rebounds, making four 3-pointers and committing no turnovers in 39:15.
Mamukelashvili supplied 17 points on 6-for-9 shooting, including three 3-pointers, in 24 minutes off the bench. Kessler had 13 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. Williams scored 11.
Portland’s reserves outscored the Lakers’ bench 48–33. Holiday made eight of his 12 shots, while Robert Williams III added 14 points, 10 rebounds and two steals in 20:54. Starting center Donovan Clingan also collected 10 rebounds. Avdija had nine assists to accompany his 23 points; Morant made nine of his 13 shots.
The Trail Blazers shot 59.0% from the field and made 18 of 36 3-pointers. Los Angeles shot 56.3% and made 17 of 43 from beyond the arc. Portland held a 38–31 advantage in individual rebounds and scored 19 points off turnovers to the Lakers’ 11.
Team comparison
| Statistic | POR | LAL |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 136 | 129 |
| Field goals | 46-78 | 45-80 |
| Field goal percentage | 59.0% | 56.3% |
| 3-pointers | 18-36 | 17-43 |
| 3-point percentage | 50.0% | 39.5% |
| Free throws | 26-41 | 22-30 |
| Free throw percentage | 63.4% | 73.3% |
| Rebounds | 38 | 31 |
| Offensive rebounds | 7 | 6 |
| Defensive rebounds | 31 | 25 |
| Assists | 30 | 28 |
| Turnovers | 14 | 15 |
| Steals | 5 | 6 |
| Blocks | 2 | 4 |
| Personal fouls | 23 | 29 |
| Starter points | 88 | 96 |
| Bench points | 48 | 33 |
| Points in the paint | 56 | 48 |
| Fast-break points | 10 | 22 |
| Points conceded off turnovers | 11 | 19 |
| Largest lead | 8 | 11 |
Shooting figures show made–attempted. Percentages follow the source’s displayed rounding. Points conceded off turnovers are the opponent’s points following turnovers.
The closing rotation and second chances
Portland used second chances to change the fourth-quarter lead. After the Lakers went ahead 120–118 on Ziaire Williams’ 3-pointer, Robert Williams III and Jrue Holiday collected offensive rebounds on the same Portland possession. Holiday then made a 23-foot 3 with 4:16 remaining to put the Trail Blazers ahead 121–120.
Portland brought Damian Lillard back for Holiday with 3:49 left and the score tied at 121. Lillard joined Ja Morant, Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara and Robert Williams III. That group scored 14 points to the Lakers’ eight over the next 3:06.2, through Los Angeles’ timeout at 42.8 seconds. Lillard made two 3-pointers in that stretch, Avdija made another and Morant added two baskets.
JJ Redick returned Matisse Thybulle for Sandro Mamukelashvili with 2:07 remaining. Morant’s two baskets and Lillard’s step-back 3 came after that substitution.
| Time | Play or personnel change | POR–LAL |
|---|---|---|
| 4:16 | Holiday’s 3 after Portland’s two offensive rebounds | 121–120 |
| 3:49 | Lillard replaces Holiday after Reaves ties the game | 121–121 |
| 3:38 | Lillard’s 24-foot 3 | 124–121 |
| 2:59 | Avdija’s 28-foot 3, assisted by Lillard | 128–124 |
| 2:07 | Thybulle replaces Mamukelashvili | 128–127 |
| 2:01 | Morant’s 11-foot floater | 130–127 |
| 1:24 | Morant’s 6-foot turnaround | 132–127 |
| 43.1 | Lillard’s step-back 3 | 135–129 |
Complete player statistics
Swipe each table to see all columns. Starters and reserves are identified beneath each player’s name; unused bench players are listed separately.
Portland Trail Blazers
| Player | MIN | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deni AvdijaStarter · SF | 33:21 | 23 | 8-15 | 4-7 | 3-7 | 4 | 9 |
| Toumani CamaraStarter · PF | 24:17 | 12 | 4-5 | 4-5 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 |
| Donovan ClinganStarter · C | 26:09 | 9 | 3-4 | 2-2 | 1-4 | 10 | 1 |
| Damian LillardStarter · SG | 31:28 | 21 | 5-12 | 4-8 | 7-11 | 5 | 4 |
| Ja MorantStarter · PG | 30:41 | 23 | 9-13 | 1-1 | 4-4 | 0 | 4 |
| Robert Williams IIIReserve · C | 20:54 | 14 | 6-8 | 0-0 | 2-2 | 10 | 1 |
| Jrue HolidayReserve · G | 29:30 | 22 | 8-12 | 2-6 | 4-6 | 4 | 3 |
| Sidy CissokoReserve · G | 20:11 | 6 | 2-4 | 0-2 | 2-2 | 2 | 4 |
| Scoot HendersonReserve · G | 16:40 | 2 | 0-3 | 0-3 | 2-2 | 2 | 3 |
| Vít KrejčíReserve · G | 06:45 | 4 | 1-2 | 1-2 | 1-3 | 0 | 0 |
| Team totals | – | 136 | 46-78 | 18-36 | 26-41 | 38 | 30 |
Additional player statistics
| Player | OREB | DREB | TO | STL | BLK | PF | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deni AvdijaStarter · SF | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | +8 |
| Toumani CamaraStarter · PF | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -1 |
| Donovan ClinganStarter · C | 1 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -4 |
| Damian LillardStarter · SG | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -1 |
| Ja MorantStarter · PG | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | +8 |
| Robert Williams IIIReserve · C | 2 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | +5 |
| Jrue HolidayReserve · G | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +10 |
| Sidy CissokoReserve · G | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +4 |
| Scoot HendersonReserve · G | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | +4 |
| Vít KrejčíReserve · G | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +2 |
| Team totals | 7 | 31 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 23 | – |
- Did not play
- Branden Carlson (Coach's decision); Micah Potter (Coach's decision); Hansen Yang (Coach's decision)
Los Angeles Lakers
| Player | MIN | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matisse ThybulleStarter · SF | 21:53 | 5 | 2-5 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 2 | 1 |
| Ziaire WilliamsStarter · PF | 28:41 | 11 | 4-5 | 2-3 | 1-2 | 2 | 4 |
| Walker KesslerStarter · C | 32:45 | 13 | 6-9 | 0-0 | 1-4 | 8 | 0 |
| Austin ReavesStarter · SG | 39:15 | 26 | 8-13 | 4-8 | 6-7 | 4 | 7 |
| Luka DončićStarter · PG | 36:45 | 41 | 12-22 | 6-15 | 11-13 | 5 | 9 |
| Quentin GrimesReserve · G | 18:43 | 2 | 1-4 | 0-3 | 0-0 | 4 | 0 |
| Sandro MamukelashviliReserve · F | 24:00 | 17 | 6-9 | 3-4 | 2-2 | 4 | 2 |
| Jake LaRaviaReserve · F | 19:05 | 5 | 2-2 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 |
| Collin SextonReserve · G | 13:50 | 9 | 4-11 | 0-5 | 1-2 | 1 | 4 |
| Kevon LooneyReserve · F | 05:01 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 |
| Team totals | – | 129 | 45-80 | 17-43 | 22-30 | 31 | 28 |
Additional player statistics
| Player | OREB | DREB | TO | STL | BLK | PF | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matisse ThybulleStarter · SF | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -12 |
| Ziaire WilliamsStarter · PF | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -3 |
| Walker KesslerStarter · C | 2 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 4 | +3 |
| Austin ReavesStarter · SG | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Luka DončićStarter · PG | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | +7 |
| Quentin GrimesReserve · G | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -10 |
| Sandro MamukelashviliReserve · F | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +6 |
| Jake LaRaviaReserve · F | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | -10 |
| Collin SextonReserve · G | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -8 |
| Kevon LooneyReserve · F | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -8 |
| Team totals | 6 | 25 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 29 | – |
- Did not play
- Jaden Hardy (Coach's decision); Bronny James (Coach's decision); Arthur Kaluma (Coach's decision); Jarred Vanderbilt (Coach's decision)
A dash marks a team total not supplied by the source. MIN: minutes; PTS: points; FG/3PT/FT: field goals, 3-pointers and free throws made–attempted; REB: rebounds; AST: assists; OREB/DREB: offensive/defensive rebounds; TO: turnovers; STL: steals; BLK: blocks; PF: personal fouls; +/−: the team’s scoring margin while that player was on the court.
The Lakers face the Clippers next
The Lakers play the LA Clippers at Intuit Dome on Wednesday, October 28, at 10:30 p.m. EDT. Portland returns to Moda Center to host the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday, October 29, at 10 p.m. EDT.
Highlights and sources
- Dončić’s basket and foul
- Avdija finishes through a foul
- Portland and Los Angeles exchange 3-pointers
- Robert Williams III’s alley-oop dunk
- Official NBA final box score
- Complete play-by-play
- Lakers schedule
- Trail Blazers schedule
- More NBA coverage
Postgame comments from either club had not yet been verified in the original sources checked for this edition. The final box score, play-by-play and highlights are linked above. ESPN video availability varies by location; its player reported a geographic restriction during our phone check.
