PORTLAND, Ore. — Earlier than the Lakers took the court docket Saturday night time, they added two extra starters and a key reserve to the injured record. However the Lakers nonetheless had LeBron James and so they hoped he may carry them previous Portland.
Starters Luka Doncic (left groin soreness) and Deandre Ayton (left knee soreness) didn’t play. Within the fourth quarter, Marcus Good went down amid a pile of gamers within the lane and finally limped to the locker room by no means to return.
As for James and the remainder of the Lakers, all the accidents have been an excessive amount of to beat in a 132-116 loss to the Path Blazers on the Moda Heart.
Good had 25 factors earlier than he went to the locker room. James had 20 factors however was simply six for 16 from the sector. He had 9 rebounds and eight assists for a Lakers workforce that has misplaced 5 of its final six video games.
Drew Timme was a constructive for the Lakers, scoring a career-high 21 factors. Rui Hachimura and Maxi Kleber every had 11 factors.
Shaedon Sharpe led Portland (21-22) with 25 factors. Jerami Grant and Caleb Love every scored 22 factors and Donovan Clingan completed with 18 factors and 11 rebounds.
Lakers guard Marcus Good shoots over Portland middle Donovan Clingan within the first half Saturday.
(Amanda Loman / Related Press)
Doncic, who underwent an MRI and is listed as day-to-day, was coping with the damage all of final week regardless of enjoying towards the Kings, Hawks and Hornets.
“I believe it was an accumulation of an extended week, extra lingering, if something,” Lakers coach JJ Redick stated earlier than the sport.
The Lakers (24-16) aren’t positive if Ayton will play towards Toronto on Sunday. The middle is day-to-day with left knee soreness.
“He took a success in his knee and there was no swelling, just a few soreness,” Redick stated.
The Lakers have been additionally with out backup middle Jaxson Hayes, who didn’t play towards the Path Blazers due to left hamstring tendinopathy. Redick stated there’s an opportunity Hayes may play Sunday.
James missed his first 5 pictures within the first quarter, ending one-for-seven from the sector for simply two factors.
The Lakers have been known as for 13 fouls within the first quarter, resulting in 22 free-throw makes an attempt for the Path Blazers, an enormous purpose why they opened a 40-27 lead after the primary 12 minutes of play.
