For this first match on European schedule of the season, the Lakers welcomed the Blazers, with the aim of unlocking their victory counter and, as a bonus, ending the invincibility of their opponents. Mission failed, because they are the teammates of an excellent Damian Lillard (41 points, 5 rebounds) who leave California with a smile (106-104), on a game winner of Jerami Grant (16 points).
A success won on the wire, which above all allows Portland to chain a third consecutive one, while LeBron James (31 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists), Anthony Davis (22 points, 10 rebounds, 6 blocks) and others, still awful at 3-pts, bowed for the third time in a row. And, this, despite a rather interesting second period, weighed down by a money time missed and questionable decisions in attack…
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
— Damian Lillard, the elusive. Author of 41 points against the Suns on Friday night, the franchise player of the Blazers returned the cover today. Despite a complicated start (0/4 on shots), which he quickly made forget by aligning a 6/6, he held his rank from start to finish, to hit the Lakers’ defense and guide his team to a third success of rank. Threatening at 3-pts and sharp in penetration, the All-Star leader was therefore immense, showing himself especially decisive at the end of the game, when Portland seemed to be on the ropes, with this big 3-pts to go back in front.
— A promising second half for the Lakers. Logically dominated before the break, due in particular to a non-existent address at 3-pts, the “Purple & Gold” returned from the locker room with much better intentions, on each side of the field. Finally successful from a distance, they also showed solidity and energy in defense, to overthrow the Blazers and regain control. In the wake of Anthony Davis, impeccable offensively and defensively, but also of LeBron James. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough…
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The two leaders of the Lakers will not have much to blame themselves for today, except perhaps their 2/11 at 3-pts or their 5 lost balls in aggregate. Apart from that, “LBJ” and “AD” have as often held their rank, dominating in the paint in attack, like their entire team (66 points to 38), cutting the defense of the Blazers with several beautiful well-felt passes or preventing access to the circle by controlling the defending racket. Just a pity that they lacked support, except Lonnie Walker IV (15 points).
✅ Jerami Grant. Damian Lillard’s main offensive lieutenant tonight, the 28-year-old winger especially distinguished himself by scoring the winning basket, 3 seconds from the end, ahead of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Before that, he will have taken what the Lakers defense gave him and he wasted little, a sign that his integration into Oregon is on the right track.
⛔ The Lakers’ 3-point address. After shooting 10/40 and 9/45 at 3-pts in its first two games, Los Angeles this time posted a pitiful 6/33 from afar against Portland. And fortunately their five award-winning successes in the third quarter came to swell the statistics because, on the other three, they point to only… 1/20 in the exercise!!! In these conditions, it is difficult to break away, even when the racket is dominated, even when the loss of the ball is less numerous or even when the address is there on the free throw line…
⛔ Anfernee Simons. Alongside Damian Lillard, “Ant” will have suffered, ending the meeting with ugly success percentages: 5/17 on shots and 0/6 at 3-pts. Never in rhythm offensively, he will have accumulated bricks, in addition to accumulating faults and lost balls. A match to forget, even if the combo guard 23-year-old planted a capital shot in the last minute of regulation time, to bring the Blazers to -1.
THE FOLLOWING
Los Angeles (0-3) : trip to Denver, in the night from Wednesday to Thursday (04:00).
Portland (3-0) : back-to-back against Denver, on the night of Monday to Tuesday (04:00).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YfrWRZMjvs
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