One week after defeating the Lakers, the Portland Path Blazers will look to do it once more after they host Los Angeles on Monday night time.
The Path Blazers recorded a 122-108 street win over the Lakers on Oct. 27. It was their second straight win over Los Angeles after shedding their earlier six matchups.
Portland might be higher rested for the rematch because it hasn’t performed since Friday’s riveting 109-107 house victory over the Denver Nuggets. The Lakers knocked off the visiting Miami Warmth 130-120 on Sunday night time for his or her third straight victory after which boarded the late-night flight to the Pacific Northwest.
Luka Doncic mentioned it was time to “get some relaxation” after the competition and that is precisely what he’s going to get Monday night time. The Lakers dominated Doncic (leg contusion) and fellow guard Austin Reaves (groin soreness) out of the competition on Monday afternoon.
Doncic had 29 factors, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his 83rd profession triple-double towards the Warmth.
Doncic and his teammates ripped off 77 first-half factors towards Miami en path to the staff’s highest-scoring output in seven video games to this point this season.
“Yeah, 130 factors is fairly superior,” Doncic mentioned. “We shared the ball rather well. I really feel like we missed a number of open photographs so there’s room for enchancment.”
Doncic scored 43, 49 and 44 factors in his first three appearances. Sunday’s level whole allowed him to set a Los Angeles report with 165 factors in his first 4 video games of the season. That broke the franchise mark held by the legendary Jerry West (154 in 1969-70).
Reaves added 26 factors and 11 assists whereas early-season sensation Jake LaRavia scored 25 factors off the bench for his second-best scoring effort of the marketing campaign.
“He is permitting the sport to come back to him,” Lakers coach JJ Redick mentioned of LaRavia. “Not stunned he is discovered a degree of consolation. He is obtained a knack for the sport and is strong in a number of areas.”
Doncic and Reaves each had been simply 9-of-22 capturing. Doncic was 1 of 11 from behind the arc and Reaves made 4 of 14.
“I feel we each performed horrible (Sunday night time),” Doncic mentioned. “We did not make photographs, however all people stepped up and we shared the ball fairly nicely and that is how we obtained a win.”
Reaves scored 41 factors within the current loss to Portland when Doncic joined LeBron James (sciatica) on the sidelines.
Portland obtained 25 factors from Deni Avdija. Jrue Vacation added 24 and Jerami Grant had 22.
The Path Blazers even have received three straight video games.
Portland trailed Denver by 10 factors after three quarters on Friday however later scored the sport’s ultimate seven factors to land the victory. Grant’s two free throws with 1.4 seconds left accounted for the profitable factors.
“I am simply impressed with the character that we present night-in and night-out,” Avdija instructed reporters. “We preserve being constant on protection. We’re being higher additionally in closing video games, in order that’s vital. However our id, man, I like our id. We’re bodily, it is not simple to play towards us.”
Avdija scored a team-best 23 factors and has scored 20 or extra in 5 of six video games. He is averaging a team-best 22.7 factors.
Path Blazers interim coach Tiago Splitter was impressed together with his membership’s resilience.
“The fellows had been prepared, ready and simply introduced their ‘A’ sport,” Splitter mentioned of the win over Denver.
Portland guard Shaedon Sharpe (calf) is possible for Monday’s sport. He matched his season excessive of 19 factors towards Denver.
Lakers middle Deandre Ayton (again) sat out towards the Warmth and he was listed as questionable on Monday. Ayton, who spent the earlier two seasons with the Path Blazers, had 16 factors and eight rebounds in final week’s sport towards Portland.
Los Angeles ahead Maxi Kleber (stomach) is also listed as questionable. Kleber can be making his season debut if he steps on the court docket.
Path Blazers guard Blake Wesley broke his proper foot in Friday’s sport. A timetable for his return hasn’t but been set.
–Area Degree Media
