The Los Angeles Lakers accused the fatigue today, after three games in just four days, and fell tightly against the Portland Trail Blazers 107-11) with a discreet performance by Marc Gasol.
The Spanish pivot got 4 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks and a steal in the 19 minutes he was on the track.
The defenders of the NBA title showed some signs of fatigue, especially with lapses in concentration and success in the fourth quarter, within a game full of alternatives and with great sets for both.
The Lakers, who had less than 24 hours to recover after Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, they are now left with a balance of 2 wins and 2 losses.
LeBron James (29 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists) once again led the Angelenos, in which he also highlighted Dennis Schroder (24 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists).Anthony Davis, who returned with the Lakers today after missing the previous game due to a minor calf injury, added 13 points and 10 rebounds.
For the Trail Blazers, the top scorers were Damian Lillard (31 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds) and Gary Trent Jr. (28 points and 3 rebounds).
The match played today at the Staples Center in Los Angeles (USA) was the reunion between these two teams after the Los Angeles team beat the Blazers in the first round of the qualifying rounds for the title that were played in the ” bubble “from Orlando (USA).
In today’s crash the Lakers stepped on the accelerator from the start with a James totally on a roll. The Angelina star added 9 points of all colors (a tap, a triple and a spectacular dunk) to launch the purple and gold in the first four minutes (14-5).
He also signed up for the scoring party Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, which with three triples in the first quarter contributed to a comfortable lead for the Lakers (30-22) over some denied Blazers facing the rim (3 of 14 in shots of three).
The game changed completely in the second quarter.
Very fine from the perimeter, Trent Jr. (16 points at halftime) and CJ McCollum (13 points) led a tremendous 7-21 quarter that sent the Blazers ahead on the scoreboard (54-58) to the locker room.
After the break, it was again the turn of the Lakers offense, which with a splendid Schroder They unleashed a 15-0 run to regain control of the situation (69-61).
But Lillard He woke up with 13 points only in this quarter so that his team reached the decisive stage with all the options available (85-84).
An arsonist Trent Jr. he appeared in the final minutes full of gunpowder and hit three consecutive triples that left the purple and gold stunned and unanswered (91-96).
James kept his team within a stone’s throw until the last gasp, but an unstoppable Lillard from the line of three and in penetration secured the victory for the Trail Blazers.
LThe Lakers will return to action on Wednesday when they visit the San Antonio Spurs
