D’Angelo Russell put up an impressive 34 points, while LeBron James contributed 28, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a decisive 134-110 victory against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night, bringing the Lakers back to .500.
Austin Reaves chipped in with 15 points, and Anthony Davis had a solid performance with 14 points and 14 rebounds, helping the Lakers rebound from an 18-point loss to Brooklyn just two nights ago.
Russell and James showcased their dominance by scoring the Lakers’ first 19 points in the fourth quarter. The Lakers capitalized on fastbreak opportunities, amassing a season-high 35 points in transition. A notable moment featured Russell’s clever move, faking a behind-the-back pass to James and finishing with a layin, leaving even James impressed.
“That was dope,” remarked James, acknowledging the significance of fastbreak points resulting from solid defensive play. “The only way to get fastbreak points is to defend, defend without fouling, and we did that.”
With a 23-point lead, James and Russell took charge, with James dunking, hitting a 3-pointer, and sinking four free throws. Russell, who returned to the starting lineup five games ago, has been proactive in complementing James and Davis.
“He’s been aggressive looking for his shot, and we continue to try to find him, especially in transition,” noted James.
As the game was firmly in control, James took a seat along with the other starters in the final six minutes, allowing the bench to finish the job.
Malcolm Brogdon led the Trail Blazers with 23 points and nine assists, while Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant added 19 and 17 points, respectively. Despite Portland’s recent two-game winning streak, the Lakers, under coach Darvin Ham, were well-prepared for the Trail Blazers’ offensive firepower.
Russell’s standout performance included 13 points in the third quarter and tying his season-high with six 3-pointers, falling just one point short of his season-high of 35 points. Lakers’ coach Darvin Ham praised Russell’s dedication, stating, “He’s really locked in on his game and focused on ways he can help the team. Tonight was one of the most complete games I’ve seen him play since he’s been back in a Laker uniform.”