PORTLAND, Ore. — During a third-quarter timeout, LeBron James, wearing a button-up shirt and a beanie, stood under the rim, casually flicking in shots off the glass.
The Lakers will need the NBA’s all-time leading scorer back in uniform soon, making baskets that count.
James’ absence – his third straight missed game – was felt deeply Monday night in a 127-115 loss that saw the Portland Trail Blazers (28-29) toy with the Lakers (26-32) on a razor-sharp shooting night. Damian Lillard had 30 points by halftime and finished with an easy 40.
The 32-year-old has already notched a 60-point game this season, but he was in cruise control with eight 3-pointers, all before halftime. As a team, the Blazers were a whopping 23 for 47 from behind the arc, a mark made more painful by even Matisse Thybulle, just a 33% deep shooter, going 4 for 6.
“Just try to do your best to make it as difficult as possible for him,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said of Lillard. “Outside of stealing his sneakers, I don’t know what else you can do.”
It was that kind of night, and when the Blazers stacked up 17 3-pointers by halftime, the Lakers’ defense became so stretched and frenetic that Portland was able to effortlessly cut on them in the third quarter, solidifying the result.
The 13th-place Lakers find themselves in the agonizing position of needing every win they can get, and they bungled a valuable opportunity to move closer to the team directly ahead of them in the Western Conference standings when the night started. They have just one more game against the New Orleans Pelicans before the All-Star break, which they probably sorely need, too.
“Obviously it’s our second game together,” Lakers big man Anthony Davis said of the significant roster changes made ahead of the trade deadline. “Still trying to figure it out.”
Davis finished with 19 points and 20 rebounds, but he looked tentative especially on offense despite being guarded by spot starter Drew Eubanks in…
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