Luka Doncic poured in 41 on Tuesday night, and Portland still left with a 136-129 win, handing the Lakers their first loss of the season. Now 3-1 and down to the fifth seed, Los Angeles faces the Clippers tonight.
The Lead That Slipped
The Lakers looked in control. A 13-0 run on either side of halftime put them up 79-68, and their lead peaked at 11. They still led 103-102 after three, but Portland outscored them 34-26 in the fourth, and Damian Lillard had 10 of those points. The game had 11 lead changes and 10 ties. Austin Reaves added 26 points without a turnover, and Sandro Mamukelashvili scored 17 off the bench on 6-of-9 shooting. Down 135-129 with 25 seconds left, Matisse Thybulle lost the ball out of bounds and then missed a 3. He finished at minus-12 in 22 minutes.
The Crosstown Rematch
The Lakers beat the Clippers 125-117 on Oct. 23, when Reaves scored 28. Tyronn Lue's team is 1-2 and has lost two straight. The Clippers list Rui Hachimura, Bradley Beal, Brandon Ingram, Max Strus, Yanic Konan Niederhauser and Jordan Miller as out. Darius Garland is averaging 24.0 points and Brook Lopez 18.0. On the Lakers' side, Cameron Carr (right oblique) and Adou Thiero (left knee) are listed out, and both have an estimated return date of today. After the Clippers, the Lakers visit Golden State on Oct. 30 for an Emirates NBA Cup game on Prime Video.
The Number: 117.6
That is the Lakers' defensive rating through four games. An offense rated at 126.7 has covered for it so far and produced a plus-9.1 net rating, but Portland scored 136. Walker Kessler had 13 points, eight rebounds and two blocks, along with four turnovers and 1-of-4 free throw shooting. Thybulle, Jake LaRavia and Quentin Grimes were each minus-10 or worse. The starters scored 96 of the 129 points. JJ Redick needs to find a group around Kessler that can hold up for a full fourth quarter, and it isn't clear yet that he has one.
When do the Lakers play the Clippers again?
Tonight, Oct. 28, on the road. The Lakers won the first meeting 125-117 on Oct. 23.
Will Cameron Carr and Adou Thiero play against the Clippers?
Both are listed out, Carr with a right oblique injury and Thiero with a left knee injury. Each has an estimated return date of Oct. 28.
