NBA News Wire
Trail Blazers 102, Lakers 86
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
PORTLAND, Ore. — Guard Wesley Matthews scored 20 points and forward LaMarcus Aldridge collected 18 points and 12 rebounds as the Portland Trail Blazers went into the All-Star break with a 102-86 drubbing of the Los Angeles Lakers Wednesday night at the Moda Center.
Guard Damian Lillard added 15 points and eight assists and forward Nicolas Batum contributed seven points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Trail Blazers (36-17), who have won four of their last five games.
Guard Jordan Clarkson had 17 points and grabbed six rebounds and guard Wayne Ellington scored 16 points with a career-high eight boards for the Lakers (13-40), who have lost six in a row and are 1-15 in their last 16 games.
Portland rolled despite .407 shooting from the field, including 10 of 30 (.333) from 3-point range. The Lakers shot only .366 from the field but were 7-for-16 (.438) from beyond the arc.
Lillard scored 11 points and Matthews 10 to stake the Blazers to a 54-46 halftime lead. Aldridge had eight points despite 2-for-11 shooting. The Lakers shot only .375 from the field in the half.
Portland extended the difference to 77-56 midway through the third quarter behind the play of Matthews, who in the span of 45 seconds made a diving steal to set up a Lillard layup, converted a three-point play and sank a 3-point shot. Soon it was 83-60, and the Lakers were finished.
Portland came out of the gates smoking, jumping to a 7-0 lead in the game’s first 90 seconds. With Aldridge contributing eight points and seven rebounds, the Blazers took a 32-24 advantage into the second quarter.
The Blazers increased the margin to 50-39, but the Lakers used a 5-0 run to get to within 50-44 with 2:18 left.
NOTES: Portland was without reserve C Chris Kaman (ankle). … The Blazers entered the game having won three of four since the return C Robin Lopez (hand). “Robin has made such a difference,” coach Terry Stotts said. “We’ve had more of a flow on offense. Our rotation is more sound. It brings a little bit of comfort at both ends of the floor.” … Lakers coach Byron Scott, on how to control Portland F LaMarcus Aldridge: “Lock him in the locker room. We have a really good chance then.” … Scott said he hadn’t heard the story about Lakers F Nick Young, who claims a dolphin tried to kill him on a trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. “He’s a black guy,” Scott said, laughing. “He wasn’t even in the water. I don’t believe that story. He’d have gotten me better if he’d have said a shark. But a dolphin? Come on.”
