Doncic scores 53 as Lakers recover from deficit to beat Portland
The Slovenian star also set a franchise record for 50-point games, while LeBron James made a quiet return to Cleveland in a loss for the 76ers.
By Robert Marshall ·
Luka Doncic scored 53 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 124-118 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday. The win improved the Lakers' record to four straight wins in the NBA Cup group stage. Doncic finished with five rebounds and five assists in the contest.
The Lakers trailed by 16 points during the second quarter before mounting a comeback. At the end of the first half, Doncic hit a shot from well beyond the half-court line to pull Los Angeles within seven points. He secured the final victory with a floater in the closing minute after Portland had cut the lead to four points.
Doncic has now scored at least 40 points in six of his last seven games. This streak places him alongside Elgin Baylor, Kobe Bryant, and George Mikan as the only Lakers players to record 40-point games in four straight regular-season contests. His 53-point performance was his 11th career 50-point game and his fourth as a Laker, tying George Mikan for the franchise record.
Doncic said he is having a lot of fun playing basketball. He noted that the experience is even better when he plays well and his team wins. The Lakers overcame their slow start to control the second half despite Portland's late push.
In another game, LeBron James returned to Cleveland as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers. The 41-year-old forward received mixed reactions from the crowd during his introduction. The Cavaliers defeated the Sixers 119-95, ending Philadelphia's five-game winning streak. James finished with eight points on 3-of-12 shooting, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals, and six turnovers.
Joel Embiid missed all nine of his field goal attempts and scored six points from the free-throw line. Jaylen Brown led the Sixers with 20 points. Cleveland out-rebounded Philadelphia 56-42 even without injured center Jarrett Allen. Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points and Evan Mobley added 22 for the winners. James said he did not feel in good rhythm and cited his turnovers as a factor in the loss.
The NBA Cup group stage continues in November. Quarterfinals are scheduled for December 4 and 5. Semifinals will take place on December 8 and 9, with the championship final on December 11. Other results included a 119-80 win for Boston over Charlotte and a 124-109 victory for San Antonio over Sacramento.
