Despite being without their three leading scorers, the Los Angeles Lakers secured an unexpected 123-115 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night. The win was powered by a combined 57 points from starters Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura, and a surprising 25-point performance from reserve guard Nick Smith Jr.
The Lakers entered the game severely shorthanded. They were already without LeBron James, who is recovering from sciatica, before Luka Dončić (injury management) and Austin Reaves (right groin soreness) were also ruled out. The late scratches swung the betting line dramatically, shifting the Lakers from 3.5-point favorites to 10.5-point underdogs.
However, coach JJ Redick expressed unwavering belief in his available roster. “I told the guys before the game, ‘We have enough in this locker room to win this game,'” Redick said. “My belief level in this group… is as high as it’s been.”
Los Angeles trailed by as many as nine points in the third quarter but mounted a comeback to seize the lead before the period ended. Smith was instrumental in the rally, scoring 17 of his points after halftime. The Lakers then extended their advantage to 14 in the final quarter to seal the win.
“That confidence, belief and truly connectivity in that second half was just awesome to watch,” Redick added.
Deandre Ayton attributed the team’s resilience to a “next man up” mentality, citing a recent 27-point game from forward Jake LaRavia. “He started all this,” Ayton joked. “[Coach] JJ has given us opportunities like this when our guys are out and given us the freedom. You’ve got guys like Jake LaRavia and Nick Smith showing out.”
The team’s depth has been a notable early-season storyline. The Lakers have now had six different players score at least 25 points through their first eight games. According to ESPN Research, the only other team in franchise history to achieve this feat was the 1971-72 championship-winning squad.
For Smith, who signed a two-way contract just before training camp after being waived by the Hornets, the performance was a personal breakthrough. Entering the contest with just nine total points on the season, he called the victory “probably the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”
“Just coming together as a group, getting a big win, especially with our best players out,” Smith said. “For the young guys and the other players to step up like this is big for us.”
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