Los Angeles Lakers Close the Series, Win Game 5 Against the Trail Blazers, 131-122

LA Lakers clinched both Game 5 and the series against the Portland Trail Blazers tonight, cruising into the Western Conference semifinals. A 131-122 victory of the team from the City of Angles propelled them into the second round and earned a few days more to rest.

Even though Portland fought courageously, they couldn’t restrain the No.1 seed in the conference, and its final push in the last quarter. The Blazers managed to come back following the Lakers’ series in the third, and were leveled with the rivals in the last sequence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHFo5IhG07M

However, an 11-0 run of the purple and gold, would decide this event, propelling Frank Vogel’s side into the next round.

“We got better throughout the course of the series. We knew we were coming into a series versus a hot Portland team that was playing the best basketball inside the bubble along with Phoenix,” said Lebron James who ended the night with a triple-double.

King James scored 36 points, adding 10 rebounds and assists each. LBJ was 14-of-19 from the field, 4-of-7 for three, and had one steal and block each. His teammate Anthony Davis posted a game-high with 43 points, 14-of-18 from the field, and was unstoppable for the Blazers’ big men. The Eyebrow managed to drill four threes, 11 of his 13 free-throw attempts, and record nine boards and four dimes.

Even though his team allowed 122 points, Vogel was extremely pleased with the way his boys worked on the defensive side of the ball in the key moments. He would look back to all four wins in this series, having the same conclusion.

“I was very impressed with how we committed to the defensive end the first four games,” he told the reporters.

Trail Blazers were without Damian Lillard, whose right knee was inflamed and injured. They also missed Zach Collins and Nassir Little, but fought bravely and, in some moments, pushed the Lakers to the brink.

“All you can do is hope to hang around and make it a fourth-quarter game and win in the end, and we didn’t quite win it in the end,” coach Terry Stotts said.

CJ McCollum scored 36 buckets, 13-for-25, had seven assists and six rebounds, scoring three threes in 46 minutes. Jusuf Nurkic had a double-double with 16 points and 10 boards. Nurk was versatile tonight with 6 assists, five steals and one block. Gary Trent had the same number of baskets, while Anfernee Simmons scored 13 of the bench.

Carmelo Anthony dropped 27, with seven rebounds. Melo spoke about his future following the contest, saying that he found a home in Portland. The future Hall of Famer stated that he wants to come back to the Blazers.

“I pray that it can be Portland, I think I found a home in Portland.”

The LA Lakers will meet with the winner of the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets matchup. Currently, the result is 3-2 for Mike D’Antoni’s side, who initially had a 2-0 lead, but allowed OKC to come back. The current situation will give LAL a couple of days to rest and prepare better for future opponents.

Having in mind that both LeBron and AD played lost during the series against the Trail Blazers, this break will suit them well.

On the other side, the Trail Blazers are going home. They managed to reach the most important goal, and that is to enter the playoffs, but weren’t able to make something more.