Doncic scores 53 as Lakers rally past Trail Blazers 124-118

Luka Doncic scored 53 points and the Los Angeles Lakers rallied from a 16-point deficit to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 124-118 on Friday, November 6.

Doncic shot 17 of 33, made 14 of 18 free throws and hit five 3-pointers. Portland led 51-35 midway through the second quarter, but a 10-0 Lakers run that started in the closing seconds of the half cut it to 60-57 in the third.

Doncic carried Los Angeles through a 34-15 third quarter, and a second 10-0 run put the Lakers ahead 71-68. They stretched the lead to 93-77 early in the fourth.

Portland (6-2) answered with a 10-0 run of its own to get within 95-89, yet the Lakers (8-2) still led 103-93 with five minutes left. The Trail Blazers outscored them 25-21 the rest of the way.

Donovan Clingan's 3-pointer with 12.3 seconds left made it 120-116. Doncic hit two free throws, Deni Avdija scored on a driving layup, and Austin Reaves made two free throws with 2.9 seconds left to set the final margin.

Avdija had 22 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds, but turned the ball over eight times. Damian Lillard scored 22 and made all eight of his free throws. Clingan added 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Portland made 19 of 43 3-pointers.

Those misses with the ball cost Portland: it committed 24 turnovers against 15 Lakers steals, and Los Angeles grabbed 17 offensive rebounds while making 11 of 37 from deep.

Reaves scored 25 points and had four steals. Walker Kessler finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Up next

Trail Blazers: home against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, November 7.

Lakers: at the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, November 8.