LeBron Drops 40, Takes Over Late as Lakers Hold Off Blazers in Thriller

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — LeBron James delivered a commanding 40-point performance, including an eight-point scoring burst in the fourth quarter, as the Los Angeles Lakers secured a 110-102 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night.

Austin Reaves provided a strong supporting effort with 32 points, helping the Lakers overcome the absence of Luka Dončić, who remained sidelined with a strained calf.

Portland’s Deni Avdija led his team with 28 points, but it wasn’t enough to hold off the Lakers in the closing minutes.

James Takes Over Late

After the Trail Blazers tied the game at 81 in the fourth quarter, Reaves put Los Angeles back on top with a crafty scoop shot. From there, James took control.

With the Lakers clinging to a narrow lead, James drilled a three-pointer to extend the advantage to 86-81. Moments later, he sank another three before adding a fadeaway jumper, capping an eight-point solo stretch. The Lakers outscored the Blazers 10-3 in that span, forcing Portland to call a timeout.

Coming out of the break, James remained aggressive, knocking down another mid-range jumper to push the lead to 95-86. Reaves then iced the game with three free throws, helping the Lakers maintain a double-digit lead down the stretch.

Takeaways

• Lakers: Head coach JJ Redick praised James for his leadership in integrating Dončić into the team. “LeBron has been fantastic since we got Luka,” Redick said. “His engagement and ability to connect with him have been incredible.”
• Blazers: With starting center Deandre Ayton injured, rookie Donovan Clingan is expected to take on a bigger role. He played 16 minutes and contributed six points and six rebounds.

Key Moments

The Lakers built their largest lead of the night in the second quarter when James threw down a two-handed slam to put Los Angeles up 40-22. Though the Blazers fought back, James’ late-game heroics sealed the win.

Stat of the Night

The Lakers dominated at the free-throw line, converting 23-of-25 attempts (92%), while the Blazers struggled, shooting 14-of-21 (67%).

What’s Next

The Lakers will travel to Denver to take on the defending champion Nuggets on Saturday night. Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers will look to bounce back at home against the Charlotte Hornets.