Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell, right, dribbles past Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
LOS ANGELES — Anthony Davis scored 30 points and had 11 rebounds, D’Angelo Russell added 28 points with 14 assists and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 107-98 on Sunday night without LeBron James.
With James missing his first game of the season because of a left foot contusion, Max Christie started his second game for the Lakers and scored four points with four rebounds.
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Rui Hachimura scored 23 points for Los Angeles, which ended a three-game losing streak. The Lakers had dropped seven of their previous nine games.
READ: NBA: LeBron misses first game this season due to sore left foot
Deandre Ayton scored 14 points with 19 rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who lost their fourth consecutive game and have dropped six of their last seven. Shaedon Sharpe scored 19 points for Portland, which was coming off a 42-point loss to the Utah Jazz at home Friday.
Takeaways
Trail Blazers: After they were outrebounded 61-34 against the Jazz, Portland was more active on the glass led by Ayton.
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Lakers: Russell had a season high with his 14 assists and it came in a reserve role. Russell was the starting point guard for the first eight games before he was moved to the bench. He started two games last week with Austin Reaves nursing a pelvic injury.
READ: NBA: Lakers look for answers after ’embarrassing’ loss
Key moment
Hachimura gave the Lakers just what they were looking for without James, scoring 14 points in the second quarter on 5-of-6 shooting as Los Angeles rebounded from a first-period deficit to take a 59-45 lead into halftime.
Key stat
There were seven total MVP awards watching the game, with James’ four on the Lakers’ bench and the three won by the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, who watched from a private viewing section seven rows behind the courtside seats.
Up next
The Trail Blazers return home to face the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night The Lakers play at Minnesota on Friday.
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