LeBron James took over when it mattered most, scoring 40 points, including eight straight during a pivotal fourth-quarter stretch, to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 110-102 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night. With Luka Doncic sidelined due to a strained calf, Austin Reaves stepped up as the secondary scorer, delivering a season-high 32 points to help Los Angeles secure the win.
The Lakers built a 40-22 lead in the second quarter behind a dominant two-handed slam from James, but Portland fought back to tie the game at 81 early in the fourth. That’s when James flipped the switch.
After Reaves put the Lakers back in front with a scoop shot, James drilled back-to-back 3-pointers before sinking a fadeaway jumper, capping an eight-point surge that pushed the lead to 89-81. He wasn’t done, following a Blazers timeout with another jumper to stretch the advantage to nine. Reaves then sealed the win at the free-throw line, where the Lakers excelled, making 23 of 25 (92%) compared to Portland’s 14 of 21 (67%).
Head coach JJ Redick praised James’ leadership, especially in building chemistry with Doncic since the superstar’s arrival. “He’s on the train, full go, and he’s been that way for several months,” Redick said. With James leading the charge and Reaves delivering in crunch time, the Lakers kept control down the stretch and picked up an important victory. Let’s provide a grade for every player wearing Purple and Gold.
LeBron James: A-
Stats: 40 PTS, 8 REB (0 OREB, 8 DREB), 4 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 11 TO, 2 PF, 14-24 FG, 4-8 3PT, 8-8 FT, +8, 36 MIN
LeBron once again proved why he remains one of the league’s most dominant forces, delivering a masterful 40-point performance. He took over in the fourth quarter, scoring eight straight points to swing momentum back in the Lakers’ favor when Portland had tied the game. His efficiency was excellent (14-of-24 from the field, 8-of-8 from the line), and he played with controlled aggression. However, his staggering 11 turnovers were a major blemish, as some careless passing and over-dribbling led to unnecessary giveaways. Despite that, his leadership and clutch shot-making propelled the Lakers to victory.
Austin Reaves: A-
Stats: 32 PTS, 1 REB (1 OREB, 0 DREB), 7 AST, 2 STL, 2 BLK, 6 TO, 2 PF, 9-21 FG, 2-8 3PT, 12-13 FT, +5, 40 MIN
Reaves stepped up in Luka Doncic’s absence, playing with confidence and poise as the Lakers’ second scoring option. He poured in a season-high 32 points and attacked the basket relentlessly, drawing fouls and converting 12-of-13 from the free-throw line. He also dished out seven assists, showcasing his playmaking ability. However, his inefficiency from deep (2-of-8 from three) and six turnovers slightly diminished his performance. Still, his fearless scoring and defensive contributions (two steals, two blocks) were instrumental in securing the win.
Dorian Finney-Smith: C+
Stats: 10 PTS, 6 REB (1 OREB, 5 DREB), 0 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 1 PF, 4-7 FG, 2-5 3PT, 0-0 FT, +20, 33 MIN
Finney-Smith provided a solid two-way effort, finishing with 10 points and six rebounds while knocking down two timely three-pointers. He played with energy on the defensive end, coming up with two steals and a block, helping the Lakers contain Portland’s perimeter threats. While his offensive impact was limited, his strong plus/minus (+20) reflected his effectiveness in making winning plays.
Jaxson Hayes: C+
Stats: 9 PTS, 7 REB (2 OREB, 5 DREB), 4 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 4-7 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-2 FT, +2, 28 MIN
Hayes contributed a well-rounded game, scoring nine points and grabbing seven rebounds while also dishing out four assists. He was active on the glass and provided some interior presence with a block, but he struggled to finish through contact at times. His defensive rotations were solid, but his impact wasn’t overwhelming. Still, his ability to provide energy and hustle in extended minutes helped the Lakers maintain control inside.
Rui Hachimura: C+
Stats: 6 PTS, 12 REB (4 OREB, 8 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 3-7 FG, 0-3 3PT, 0-0 FT, 0, 35 MIN
Hachimura had a mixed performance, contributing just six points but making up for it with a team-high 12 rebounds. He was aggressive on the boards, particularly on the offensive glass, where he secured four second-chance opportunities. However, his shooting struggles (3-of-7 FG, 0-of-3 from deep) and lack of free-throw attempts limited his offensive impact. While his rebounding was valuable, the Lakers needed more scoring from him, especially with Doncic sidelined.
Trey Jemison III: C+
Stats: 6 PTS, 4 REB (2 OREB, 2 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 3-5 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +6, 14 MIN
Jemison made the most of his limited minutes, providing efficient scoring around the rim and solid rebounding. He finished with six points on 3-of-5 shooting and added four rebounds. Though he didn’t contribute in the assist or defensive stat columns, his hustle and physicality helped keep the Lakers competitive in the paint. His role remains small, but he played well in his time on the floor.
Gabe Vincent: C+
Stats: 7 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 1 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 3 PF, 2-7 FG, 1-6 3PT, 2-2 FT, 0, 16 MIN
Vincent had a tough night shooting the ball, going just 2-of-7 from the field and 1-of-6 from three. Despite his shooting struggles, he contributed defensively with a steal and provided some energy in his 16 minutes. He knocked down both of his free throws but was otherwise ineffective in scoring.
Jordan Goodwin: C
Stats: 0 PTS, 5 REB (1 OREB, 4 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, -8, 20 MIN
Goodwin had a quiet game offensively, failing to score in 20 minutes of action. However, he was active on the boards, grabbing five rebounds and trying to make an impact defensively. His lack of shot attempts and playmaking (one assist) made him a non-factor offensively, and his -8 plus/minus reflected his struggles in keeping pace with the Blazers’ guards.
Dalton Knecht: C-
Stats: 0 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 0-2 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, +7, 13 MIN
Knecht had a rough outing, failing to score in his 13 minutes and attempting just two shots. While he did contribute two rebounds and two assists, he didn’t make much of an impact on either end. His lack of aggression offensively made it hard for him to find a rhythm, and his limited role meant he wasn’t able to showcase his usual scoring abilities.
Shake Milton: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-1 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, 0, 5 MIN
Milton saw just five minutes of action and didn’t have much of an opportunity to contribute. He grabbed two rebounds but missed his only shot attempt. With such limited playing time, it’s difficult to evaluate his performance, though he remains on the fringes of the rotation.
