Ayton, Hachimura and Smith Jr. Spark Shorthanded Lakers Past Trail Blazers 123-115
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PORTLAND, Ore. — Deandre Ayton scored 29 points, Rui Hachimura added 28 and two-way guard Nick Smith Jr. delivered 25 off the bench, guiding the Los Angeles Lakers to a 123-115 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night at Moda Center.
The win was the fourth in a row for Los Angeles, which played without stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves after both logged heavy minutes the previous evening against Miami. Despite the absences, head coach JJ Redick’s rotation stayed close through the first half and seized control midway through the third quarter.
Key contributors
• Deandre Ayton: 29 points, dominant inside presence on both ends.
• Rui Hachimura: 28 points on 10-of-15 shooting, steady perimeter scoring.
• Nick Smith Jr.: 25 points in 27 minutes, six assists, two steals; hit multiple fourth-quarter three-pointers to seal the outcome.
Smith, a former first-round pick signed this offseason to a two-way deal, capitalized on Portland’s aggressive ball pressure by attacking early and finding his rhythm from long range in the final period. Ayton, facing the team that waived him, anchored the paint, while Hachimura’s mid-range touch kept Los Angeles ahead down the stretch.
Score by quarter: Portland led at halftime, but Los Angeles overtook the hosts in the third and maintained a narrow edge until the final buzzer.
What’s next
The Lakers return to Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday to host the San Antonio Spurs before embarking on a five-game road trip.
Source: LakersNation.com
