Injury-riddled Lakers fall to Portland for fifth loss in six video games

PORTLAND, Ore. — Before the Lakers took the courtroom Saturday evening, they added two extra starters and a key reserve to the injured listing. But the Lakers nonetheless had LeBron James and so they hoped he might carry them previous Portland.

Starters Luka Doncic (left groin soreness) and Deandre Ayton (left knee soreness) didn’t play. In the fourth quarter, Marcus Smart went down amid a pile of gamers within the lane and ultimately limped to the locker room by no means to return.

As for James and the remainder of the Lakers, all the accidents had been an excessive amount of to beat in a 132-116 loss to the Trail Blazers on the Moda Center.

Smart had 25 factors earlier than he went to the locker room. James had 20 factors however was simply six for 16 from the sector. He had 9 rebounds and eight assists for a Lakers crew that has misplaced 5 of its final six video games.

Drew Timme was a optimistic for the Lakers, scoring a career-high 21 factors. Rui Hachimura and Maxi Kleber every had 11 factors.

“At the end of the day, nobody is feeling sorry for us, nor are we looking for it,” James mentioned. “The guys that are available, we got to go out there and play our game, play the way we want to play offensively and defensively and just try to right the ship until we get whole.”

Shaedon Sharpe led Portland (21-22) with 25 factors. Jerami Grant and Caleb Love every scored 22 factors and Donovan Clingan completed with 18 factors and 11 rebounds.

Lakers guard Marcus Smart shoots over Portland middle Donovan Clingan within the first half Saturday.

(Amanda Loman / Associated Press)

Doncic, who underwent an MRI and is listed as day-to-day, was coping with the harm all of final week regardless of enjoying in opposition to the Kings, Hawks and Hornets.

“I think it was an accumulation of a longer week, more lingering, if anything,” Lakers coach JJ Redick mentioned earlier than the sport.

The Lakers (24-16) aren’t certain if Ayton will play in opposition to Toronto on Sunday. The middle is day-to-day with left knee soreness.

“He took a hit in his knee and there was no swelling, just some soreness,” Redick mentioned.

The Lakers had been additionally with out backup middle Jaxson Hayes, who didn’t play in opposition to the Trail Blazers due to left hamstring tendinopathy. Redick mentioned there’s an opportunity Hayes might play Sunday.

With so many starters out, Redick mentioned he appreciated his crew’s aggressive “spirit” in opposition to the Trail Blazers.

Still, it’s been arduous to win persistently with so many key gamers out.

“This has been our season,” Redick mentioned. “You get one guy healthy, another guy gets injured. You get one guy back and another guy gets injured. Two guys go out tonight and you play without your two centers. So, it’s been our season.”

James missed his first 5 photographs within the first quarter, ending the body going one for seven from the sector for simply two factors.

The Lakers had been known as for 13 fouls within the first quarter alone, resulting in 22 free-throw makes an attempt for the Trail Blazers — an enormous purpose why they opened a 40-27 lead after the primary 12 minutes.

“I thought the whistle was very shot in the first quarter,” James mentioned. “I think there were like maybe 17, 18, 20 free throws in the first quarter. It’s hard to set your defense with that type of situation. But we gave ourselves a chance a couple of times, but it was an uphill battle.”