The Los Angeles Lakers suffered their first loss of the 2026-27 NBA season on Tuesday night, falling 136-129 to the Portland Trail Blazers at Crypto.com Arena. The defeat snapped the Lakers' three-game winning streak after an offensive duel that saw both teams combine for 265 points.
Lakers' late rally falls short
The Lakers entered the game averaging a league-best 128 points per game, while the Trail Blazers ranked second at 126 points per game. Despite a late surge, Los Angeles could not overcome a six-point deficit in the final 42.8 seconds. Portland's Damian Lillard hit a go-ahead three-pointer off a pass from Deni Avdija, capping a 34-26 fourth-quarter advantage that secured the win. The Lakers were outscored 34-26 in the final frame after leading for much of the game.
Lakers guard Luka Doncic led all scorers with 41 points, nine assists, and five rebounds, coming off a 52-point performance against the Utah Jazz on Sunday. Teammate Austin Reaves added 26 points, seven assists, and four rebounds. For Portland, Jrue Holliday scored 22 points, while Ja Morant and Avdija each contributed 23 points.
Portland's revamped roster shines
The Trail Blazers, now featuring the offseason additions of Lillard and Morant, improved to 3-0 on the season with their third consecutive victory. The duo joined Avdija to form a dynamic offensive core, with all three averaging double-digit points in the game. Portland's defense, however, remained a point of concern as they allowed the Lakers to score 129 points despite the loss.
Lakers coach JJ Redick acknowledged the challenge posed by Portland's new-look lineup prior to tip-off. "You're talking about a playoff team that essentially added [Damian] Lillard and Ja Morant, so it'll be a great test for us tonight," Redick said.
Statistical breakdown
- Lakers: 41 (Doncic), 26 (Reaves), 12 (LeBron James), 10 (Anthony Davis)
- Trail Blazers: 23 (Morant), 23 (Avdija), 22 (Holliday), 21 (Lillard), 19 (Camara)
The Lakers (3-1) remain among the NBA's top-scoring teams, while Portland (3-0) continues to establish its identity with a revamped roster. Both teams will next face the Golden State Warriors on Thursday in a matchup that could further shape early-season narratives.