Drew Timme Posts Career-Best 21 Points as Short-Handed Lakers Drop Game in Portland
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The Los Angeles Lakers, playing without Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes, fell 122-106 to the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night, Jan. 17, 2026, at Moda Center. Despite the 16-point defeat and a 15-rebound disadvantage, the night marked a breakthrough for rookie forward Drew Timme.
Timme, who signed a two-way deal with Los Angeles in November after being waived by the Brooklyn Nets, logged his first extended NBA minutes since Apr. 30, 2025. The former Gonzaga star responded with a career-high 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting, including 3-of-4 from three-point range, adding four assists and two steals over 29 minutes.
“It’s easy when you play with guys that just get you the ball in easy spots,” Timme said on Spectrum SportsNet, crediting teammates LeBron James and Marcus Smart for precise passes. “We were just playing basketball and it happened to be me who got the shots early.”
The 23-year-old also highlighted his time with the South Bay Lakers. “The G League keeps me sharp for moments like these,” he explained. “You never know when your opportunity may come, and you have to be ready.”
Head coach JJ Redick, whose club sits at 24-16 near the season’s midpoint, urged his roster to remain level-headed after recording 15 double-digit losses. Timme’s emergence could provide extra frontcourt depth whenever Ayton or Hayes are unavailable and give Los Angeles another look at center even when both veterans dress.
Source: Lakers Nation
