LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Luka Doncic piled up 53 points Friday night, and his short jumper in the lane with 28 seconds left helped the Los Angeles Lakers hang on for a 124-118 NBA Cup win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
It was the 11th 50-point night of his career and the fourth since he arrived in Los Angeles. Doncic made 17 of 33 shots and 14 of 18 free throws, and he scored 20 in the third quarter by himself. He also banked in a shot from beyond the far free throw circle as the first half ended.
The Lakers missed their first 15 attempts from three and fell behind by 16 in the second quarter. A 17-0 run in the third flipped the game, and a 32-11 push carried them to a 16-point cushion early in the fourth. Portland chipped back to within four several times but could not get closer.
Austin Reaves struggled for three quarters before scoring 15 of his 25 points in the fourth, including a late steal and dunk. Walker Kessler posted 16 points and 12 rebounds while battling Donovan Clingan inside.
Deni Avdija filled the box for Portland with 22 points, nine rebounds and 11 assists, and Damian Lillard also scored 22. The Blazers, who had beaten the Lakers 136-129 in Los Angeles on Oct. 27, dropped only their second game of the season to finish a four-game road swing.
Doncic now has four straight 40-point games, matching a Lakers run that only Elgin Baylor, Kobe Bryant and George Mikan had managed. Los Angeles has won four in a row. Portland hosts San Antonio on Saturday.
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