LA Lakers Snap a Five-Game Losing Skid, Beat Trail Blazers, 128-120

The Los Angeles Lakers snapped their five-game losing streak, posting a win against Portland Trail Blazers in Oregon, 128-120. LeBron and the crew had to work hard, but it is pretty safe to say that they controlled the game most of the time.

The X-factor in this one was Kyle Kuzma who scored 20 points in the first half, shooting 7 for 9 in that period, completely stunning the hosts. He would end the night with 24 points, 9 for 17 from the field, and 4 boards, all that in 28 minutes.

“He has been playing out of his mind since he’s been back,” said Anthony Davis about his teammate.

In general, the Lakers bench was superb tonight, with three players besides Kuzma delivering a double-digit number of points. Caruso, who was the only one below that limit, had 9.

“We got a win, we are all happy about it, we needed it, the guys played very well. Especially the ones off the bench,” said Frank Vogel after the game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N69KOQtaipk

After a close and even first period, the guests pumped up the volume in the second, which allowed them to take a 13-point advantage midway through the sequence. As the halftime break approached, the Blazers decreased that, cutting the gap to a bearable seven points, 71-64.

Lakers started the third period with an 8-0 series, which brought them to a comfortable 82-71, but all of a sudden, the hosts were back in the game after a 14-3 rush. They even took the lead, 86-85 in those moments.

But not long after that, the purple and gold turned up the heat on the defensive side of the ball. They would prevent the hosts from scoring a basket from the game for more than four minutes of the closing part of the third quarter.

It proved to be the decisive push that created the distance for the LAL, which Portland simply couldn’t reach. Meanwhile, the Blazers were often frustrated with the officials, who truth to be told did have some controversial calls which hurt the hosts.

Damian Lillard was trying to compete with the rivals, but again, the Dame was the only one who provided some resistance, dropping 31 points, with 9 assists, and missing just one of his 14 shots from the foul stripe. CJ McCollum had 18 bucks, Hassan Whiteside a strong double-double with 19 and 16 boards, plus four blocks. However, neither of these guys wanted to take the wheel when the game was on the line.

Carmelo Anthony ended the contest with 13 points.

On the other side, LeBron delivered 21 with fantastic 16 assists and 7 boards, while Davis had 20 with 9 boards.

Coming up next, the Lakers are facing healed and motivated Luka Doncic and his Dallas Mavs already tomorrow on a second of back-to-back nights. The game takes place at the Staples Center, and following that, Vogel’s guys have four more matches at home. Their opponents will be Suns, Pelicans, Pistons and the Knicks, which presents an excellent chance for making a winning streak.

The reporters approached LeBron with a question whether will he play against the Mavs, and he answered that it depends on his condition, but that he personally wants to.

“Yeah, I’m planning on it. As long as the ice takes care of it’s business and I wake up comfortable and healthy.”

On the other side, the Blazers meet Phoenix on Monday night to close the season, and after that start a four-game journey through the East. It starts in New York, then moves to Washington, Miami, and at last Toronto.