Injury-riddled Lakers fall to Portland for fifth | College News
PORTLAND, Ore. — Before the Lakers took the court Saturday night time, they added two more starters and a key reserve to the injured record. But the Lakers still had LeBron James and they hoped he might carry them past 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 in the lane and finally limped to the locker room never to return.
As for James and the remaining of the Lakers, all of the accidents have been an excessive amount of to overcome in a 132-116 loss to the Trail Blazers at the Moda Center.
Smart had 25 factors before he went to the locker room. James had 20 factors but was just six for 16 from the sphere. He had 9 rebounds and eight assists for a Lakers group that has misplaced 5 of its last six video games.
Drew Timme was a constructive for the Lakers, scoring a career-high 21 factors. Rui Hachimura and Maxi Kleber each had 11 factors.
“At the end of the day, nobody is feeling sorry for us, nor are we looking for it,” James said. “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 each scored 22 factors and Donovan Clingan completed with 18 factors and 11 rebounds.
Lakers guard Marcus Smart shoots over Portland middle Donovan Clingan in the first half Saturday.
(Amanda Loman / Associated Press)
Doncic, who underwent an MRI and is listed as day-to-day, was dealing with the injury all of last week despite taking part in against the Kings, Hawks and Hornets.
“I think it was an accumulation of a longer week, more lingering, if anything,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said before the sport.
The Lakers (24-16) aren’t sure if Ayton will play against 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 said.
The Lakers have been also without backup middle Jaxson Hayes, who didn’t play against the Trail Blazers because of left hamstring tendinopathy. Redick said there’s a probability Hayes might play Sunday.
With so many starters out, Redick said he appreciated his group’s aggressive “spirit” against the Trail Blazers.
Still, it’s been arduous to win constantly with so many key gamers out.
“This has been our season,” Redick said. “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 pictures in the first quarter, ending the body going one for seven from the sphere for just two factors.
The Lakers have been called for 13 fouls in the first quarter alone, main to 22 free-throw makes an attempt for the Trail Blazers — a big purpose why they opened a 40-27 lead after the first 12 minutes.
“I thought the whistle was very shot in the first quarter,” James said. “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.”
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