The Lakeshow Review

The Lakers travelled to Portland to take on the Trailblazers, on the second night of a back-to-back. This was LAs second set of back-to-backs for the season, as well as their second time facing Portland on the second night of consecutive games. The Blazers defeated the Lakers last week, taking advantage of a resting Lakers squad. Last night, they had another opportunity, with LA opting to sit both Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves (LeBron James has also been out due to sciatica). This time, however, the Lakers managed to get stellar performances from the rest of their rotation, doing enough to earn a hard fought win on the road, prevailing by a score of 123-115. It was a fantastic team effort, that showcased their grit and depth.

The Lakers got off to a great start, building a 12-6 lead early in the first quarter. That was until Portland starting hitting their shots, and closing in on LAs early lead. The Blazers led 33-24 after one quarter, as they looked poised to put the Lakers away in the first half. LA, behind the Play of Deandre Ayton (29 points and 10 rebounds) managed to stay within striking distance, trailing by a point, 53-52, after a half of play. The Blazers, however, came out hot to start the second half. Led by guard Deni Avdija’s game-high 33 points, they went on a 9-2 run, pushing their lead to double digits.

The Lakers played with great effort and hustle, as they kept grinding at Portland’s lead. Deandre Ayton’s individual play was a key factor, as his back-to-the-basket game was a consistent source of easy buckets for LA. Additionally, Rui Hachimura also played a great game, as his 28 points were second on the team to Ayton’s 29. Rui’s mid-range game was on full display, and his ability to consistently pull up from 15ft was huge, particularly late in the shot clock when the offense has stalled. With Ayton and Hachimura combining for 57 points, the Lakers were able to stay in the game, despite Portland’s hot shooting through three quarters.

The Lakers regained the lead, 68-66, midway through the third period. Aside from the combined offensive burst of Ayton and Rui, LA also received great performances from Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia, whose relentless ball pressure on the defensive side helped LA regain the momentum. Smart finished with nine points, five assists and four steals; while not an impressive final stat line, his impact was greatly felt during the game. LaRavia also contributed 11 points and a team-high 6 assists, to go with three steals. Thanks to their defense, the Lakers led 90-86 at the end of three quarters.

In the fourth, it was Nick Smith Jr., who was recalled from the D-Fenders (the Lakers’ G-League affiliate) providing the final touches, as his 25 points off the bench, with 10 of those coming in the fourth, helped build a 117-105 lead with over two minutes left in regulation. Eventually, that would be enough for the Lakers to secure the win. The Lakers played a great game on both sides of the floor, getting stellar contributions on both the offensive and defensive sides.

It’s games like this that showcase the depth of the 2025-26 Lakers. Despite all three of their top players in Luka, LeBron and AR donning street clothes, the team showed the grit and resolve necessary to win these types of games. This game also highlights the impact provided by the new additions of Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia and Deandre Ayton. Smart in particular, has shown the leadership, effort and professionalism which has transformed the Lakers perimeter defensive unit. Smart leads by example, as he is the one locking up his man, diving for loose balls and creating havoc in passing lanes. As he sets the defensive standard, others follow suit, and try to match it. LaRavia, to a lesser extent, has had a similar impact. The Lakers will need to sustain this type of mentality in order to compete against the better teams in the Western Conference. Speaking of which, the team will be returning home to face the San Antonio Spurs, who are led by early-MVP favorite Victor Wembanyama. It will be a tough contest, but hopefully these early season trials will have them battle-tested going in to Wednesday’s game. Go Lakers.