Doncic Scores 53 to Lift Lakers Past Portland in NBA Cup Play
The Slovenian star's career-high 11th 50-point game sealed a comeback win, while LeBron James returned to Cleveland for a loss with Philadelphia.
By David Marshall ·
Luka Doncic scored 53 points on Friday night to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 124-118 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. The result secured the Lakers' fourth consecutive win in NBA Cup group-stage play. The team overcame a double-digit deficit to close out the contest.
Los Angeles trailed by as many as 16 points during the second quarter. Doncic altered the momentum with a long-range shot from beyond the half-court line at the end of the first half. The play reduced Portland's lead to seven points and initiated a second-half surge for the Lakers.
Portland cut the margin to four points in the final minute of regulation. Doncic answered with a floater to preserve the lead. He has now recorded 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 score in the 40s in four consecutive regular-season contests.
The 53-point total marked the 11th time in his career that Doncic has reached the 50-point plateau. It is his fourth such performance with Los Angeles, tying the franchise record held by George Mikan. He also collected five rebounds and five assists. After the game, he stated that playing basketball is inherently enjoyable, but the experience improves when he performs well and his team wins.
In a separate matchup, LeBron James played his first game in Cleveland as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers. The 41-year-old veteran, in his 24th season, faced a mixed reception from the crowd. The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Sixers 119-95 to end Philadelphia's five-game winning streak.
James struggled offensively, finishing with eight points on three of 12 shots. He also recorded 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 Philadelphia with 20 points.
Cleveland controlled the game through superior rebounding, out-muscling the Sixers 56-42 despite the absence of injured center Jarrett Allen. Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points, including 10 in the first quarter. Evan Mobley added 22. James cited a lack of offensive rhythm and excessive personal turnovers as primary factors in the loss.
The NBA Cup group stage continues through November. Quarterfinals are scheduled for December 4 and 5. Semifinals will follow on December 8 and 9. The championship final is set for December 11.
Boston defeated the Charlotte Hornets 119-80, hitting 24 of 44 three-point attempts. Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 34 points, including five three-pointers. In the West, Victor Wembanyama scored 30 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead the San Antonio Spurs past the Sacramento Kings 124-109. The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Memphis Grizzlies 128-97, extending their winning streak over Memphis to 13 games. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points, and Ajay Mitchell set a career high with 35 points.
