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By GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports activities Author
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Damian Lillard scored 21 of his 31 factors within the second half, and CJ McCollum had 20 factors and 11 assists within the Portland Path Blazers’ 115-107 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday evening.
“Hopefully we will construct on it,” Portland coach Terry Stotts mentioned. “We understand that we could be a good group. We simply beat the defending champs, they usually’re a fantastic group.”
Gary Trent Jr. matched his profession excessive with seven 3-pointers whereas scoring 28 factors within the Blazers’ second straight win over the Lakers at Staples Heart.
“It makes us just a bit bit extra assured to be approaching the highway and persevering with to develop, persevering with to construct on our effort,” Lillard mentioned. “We’re simply getting extra comfy with one another, and we’re bringing our power.”
LeBron James had 29 factors, 9 rebounds and 6 assists for the NBA champions, who completed 2-2 on their season-opening homestand. Dennis Schröder added 24 factors, however the Lakers’ streak of 59 straight victories when taking a lead into the fourth quarter was snapped.
Trent went 10 of 14 from the sector whereas ending two factors off his profession excessive in a powerful response after enjoying lower than six minutes in Portland’s win over Houston final Saturday.
“I might assume any younger participant who was coming off the type of season he had final season would anticipate to be within the rotation for greater than six minutes,” Lillard mentioned. “When that occurred, I used to be like, ‘Let’s see how he responds.’ I believe it says quite a bit about him that he got here out and had one of these efficiency. It speaks to how robust he’s mentally and the way locked in he’s to this season.”
Los Angeles saved it shut with robust video games from James and Schröder, who clearly relishes his matchups with Lillard. However their teammates largely struggled on the second evening of a back-to-back.
“We have been type of caught in mud slightly bit,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel mentioned. “I don’t know (why). We simply had hassle sustaining that depth.”
The Lakers made a 15-Zero run early within the second half and took a one-point lead into the fourth, however Lillard and McCollum traded massive pictures down the stretch. Portland completed on a 12-6 surge.
Blazers: Carmelo Anthony and Nassir Little missed the sport beneath the NBA’s well being protocols. … Zach Collins sat out with a left ankle damage.
Lakers: Alex Caruso missed the sport beneath the NBA’s well being protocols. … Los Angeles acquired simply 23 bench factors, led by Montrezl Harrell’s 9.
Anthony Davis had 13 factors and 10 rebounds in a tentative return from a one-game absence resulting from a bruised calf. He managed simply two factors in 17 minutes within the first half, and went 1 for four within the second half.
“We simply weren’t transferring the ball that properly,” Vogel mentioned. “I’ve acquired to verify I get (Davis) the ball in alternatives the place he may be aggressive.”
Blazers: At Clippers on Wednesday.
Lakers: At Spurs on Wednesday.
Extra AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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