NBA

The injury-riddled Lakers fall to the Trail Blazers for their fifth loss in six games

ballervisions 2026年1月18日

Before the Lakers took the court Saturday night, they added two more starters and a key reliever to the injured list. But the Lakers still had LeBron James and were hoping he could carry them past Portland.

Starters Luka Doncic (left groin soreness) and Deandre Ayton (left knee soreness) did not play. In the fourth quarter, Marcus Smart went down through a bunch of players on the lane and ended up limping to the locker room and never came back.

As for James and the rest of the Lakers, all injuries were more than a win in a 132-116 loss to the Trail Blazers at the Moda Center.

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Smart had 25 points before going to the locker room. James had 20 points but was just 6 of 16 from the field. He had nine rebounds and eight assists for a Lakers team that has lost five of its last six games.

Drew Timme was great for the Lakers, scoring a game-high 21 points. Rui Hachimura and Maxi Kleber each had 11 points.

“At the end of the day, no one feels sorry for us, and they’re not looking out for us,” said James. “The guys out there, we have to go out there and play our game, play the way we want to play offensively and defensively and try to right the ship until we’re alive.”

Shaedon Sharpe led Portland (21-22) with 25 points. Jerami Grant and Caleb Love scored 22 points and Donovan Clingan finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Lakers guard Marcus Smart shoots over Portland center Donovan Clingan in the first half on Saturday. (Amanda Loman/Associated Press)

Doncic, who underwent an MRI and is day-to-day, was dealing with an injury last week despite playing with the Kings, Hawks and Hornets.

“I think it was a long, grueling week, if anything,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said before the game.

The Lakers (24-16) are unsure if Ayton will play against Toronto on Sunday. Center is day to day with left knee pain.

“He got hit in the knee and there was no swelling, just pain,” Redick said.

The Lakers were also without backup center Jaxson Hayes, who did not play against the Trail Blazers because of left tendonopathy. Redick said there is a good chance that Hayes will play on Sunday.

With so many starters, Redick said he likes the competitive “spirit” of his team and the Trail Blazers.

However, it was difficult to win consistently as many key players were out.

“This was our season,” Redick said. “You get one guy healthy, one gets hurt. You get one guy back and one guy gets hurt. Two guys are out tonight and you’re playing without two of your centers. So, it’s our season.”

James missed his first five shots of the first quarter, finishing the frame going one of seven from the field for just two points.

The Lakers were called for 13 fouls in the first half alone, leading to 22 free throw attempts by the Trail Blazers – the main reason why they opened a 40-27 lead after the first 12 minutes.

“I thought the whistle was blown too much in the first quarter,” said James. “I think there were about 17, 18, 20 free throws in the first quarter. It’s hard to defend in that type of situation. But we gave ourselves a few chances, but it was an uphill battle.”

This story first appeared in the Los Angeles Times.