Overview
- Los Angeles won 123-115 in Portland to extend its streak to four games and improve to 6-2.
- Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves were ruled out earlier in the day, with LeBron James already sidelined by sciatica.
- Two-way guard Nick Smith Jr. scored 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting and 5-of-6 from three, hitting late daggers and adding six assists in 27 minutes.
- Deandre Ayton scored 29 and Rui Hachimura added 28 as ESPN Research notes six Lakers have produced 25-plus points in the team’s first eight games.
- Smith joined on a two-way after Charlotte waived him, and he told Spectrum SportsNet he played through illness; according to the Real Sports App, he is the youngest Laker to score 25-plus without a free throw.