Game ID: 22400468
Portland Trail Blazers @ Los Angeles Lakers
Thursday, January 2, 2025 at 10:30 PM ET
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
LAL 27 33 28 26 114POR 31 20 24 31 106
LAL vs POR ScoutingLAL vs POR Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
LAL availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Hayes missed 11 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 22 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK James back 12/15 after 2, 34 min since (97% of 35)
BACK Reaves back 12/13 after 5, 34 min since (97% of 35)
NEW Hachimura 32 to 38 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's restOUT Hayes missed 12 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 23 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK James back 12/15 after 2, 34 min since (98% of 35)
BACK Reaves back 12/13 after 5, 35 min since (98% of 35)
LAL availability going into 12/28 · 2 days' restOUT Hayes missed 13 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 24 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK James back 12/15 after 2, 35 min since (99% of 35)
LAL availability going into 12/31 · 2 days' restOUT Hayes missed 14 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 25 since 11/04, out tonight
LAL availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Hayes missed 15 since 11/27, returns tonight: 18 min (96% of 19)
OUT Vanderbilt missed 26 since 11/04, out tonight
LAL availability going into 1/03 · back-to-backOUT Vincent missed 2 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 27 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Hayes back 1/02 after 15, 18 min since (96% of 19)
NEW Christie 25 to 32 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Vincent missed 3 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 28 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Hayes back 1/02 after 15, 14 min since (76% of 19)
NEW Christie 25 to 32 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Vincent missed 4 since 12/31, returns tonight: 24 min (114% of 21)
OUT Vanderbilt missed 29 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Hayes back 1/02 after 15, 12 min since (61% of 19)
NEW Christie 25 to 33 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 1/13 · 5 days' restOUT Vanderbilt missed 30 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Vincent back 1/07 after 4, 24 min since (114% of 21)
BACK Hayes back 1/02 after 15, 12 min since (62% of 19)
NEW Christie 25 to 32 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Thybulle missed 28 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Banton missed 2 since 12/19, returns tonight: 13 min (77% of 17)
BACK Ayton back 12/19 after 2, 32 min since (105% of 30)
BACK Henderson back 12/08 after 4, 22 min since (84% of 27)
BACK Clingan back 12/13 after 7, 15 min since (74% of 20)
BACK Williams III back 12/15 after 7, 13 min since (75% of 18)
BACK Murray back 12/21 after 3, 3 min since (23% of 15)
BACK Reath back 12/21 after 4, 3 min since (33% of 10)
POR availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Thybulle missed 29 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Ayton back 12/19 after 2, 30 min since (98% of 30)
BACK Clingan back 12/13 after 7, 15 min since (75% of 20)
BACK Williams III back 12/15 after 7, 13 min since (75% of 18)
BACK Banton back 12/23 after 2, 13 min since (77% of 17)
BACK Murray back 12/21 after 3, 11 min since (72% of 15)
BACK Reath back 12/21 after 4, 3 min since (33% of 10)
POR availability going into 12/28 · 1 day's restOUT Thybulle missed 30 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Williams III missed 2 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Reath missed 2 since 12/23, out tonight
BACK Ayton back 12/19 after 2, 31 min since (102% of 30)
BACK Banton back 12/23 after 2, 13 min since (77% of 17)
BACK Murray back 12/21 after 3, 10 min since (64% of 15)
POR availability going into 12/30 · 1 day's restOUT Thybulle missed 31 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Williams III missed 3 since 12/23, returns tonight: 11 min (65% of 18)
OUT Banton missed 2 since 12/26, out tonight
OUT Walker missed 2 since 12/26, returns tonight: 4 min (32% of 12)
OUT Reath missed 3 since 12/23, returns tonight: 4 min (39% of 10)
BACK Ayton back 12/19 after 2, 32 min since (106% of 30)
BACK Murray back 12/21 after 3, 9 min since (62% of 15)
POR availability going into 1/02 · 2 days' restOUT Thybulle missed 32 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Banton missed 3 since 12/26, returns tonight: 5 min (29% of 17)
BACK Williams III back 12/30 after 3, 11 min since (65% of 18)
BACK Murray back 12/21 after 3, 10 min since (69% of 15)
BACK Walker back 12/30 after 2, 4 min since (32% of 12)
BACK Reath back 12/21 after 4, 4 min since (36% of 10)
POR availability going into 1/04 · 1 day's restOUT Grant missed 2 since 12/30, out tonight
OUT Thybulle missed 33 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Williams III back 12/30 after 3, 11 min since (65% of 18)
BACK Banton back 12/23 after 2, 9 min since (53% of 17)
BACK Walker back 12/30 after 2, 4 min since (32% of 12)
BACK Reath back 12/30 after 3, 4 min since (39% of 10)
POR availability going into 1/06 · 1 day's restOUT Grant missed 3 since 12/30, out tonight
OUT Thybulle missed 34 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Williams III missed 2 since 1/02, out tonight
OUT Walker missed 2 since 1/02, out tonight
OUT Reath missed 2 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Banton back 1/02 after 3, 5 min since (29% of 17)
POR availability going into 1/08 · 1 day's restOUT Grant missed 4 since 12/30, out tonight
OUT Thybulle missed 35 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Williams III missed 3 since 1/02, returns tonight: 16 min (92% of 18)
OUT Banton missed 2 since 1/04, returns tonight: 15 min (89% of 17)
OUT Walker missed 3 since 1/02, returns tonight: 5 min (38% of 12)
OUT Reath missed 3 since 1/02, returns tonight: 4 min (36% of 10)
NEW Sharpe 31 to 37 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 1/09 · back-to-backOUT Grant missed 5 since 12/30, out tonight
OUT Thybulle missed 36 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Williams III back 12/30 after 3, 14 min since (78% of 18)
BACK Banton back 1/02 after 3, 10 min since (59% of 17)
BACK Walker back 12/30 after 2, 4 min since (35% of 12)
BACK Reath back 12/30 after 3, 4 min since (38% of 10)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 115, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; James at 28 and Reaves at 23 a game. Without Hayes (15 straight), Vanderbilt (26 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 22 free throws a game; Sharpe at 20 and Avdija at 18 a game. Without Thybulle (32 straight), Banton (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the turnovers, Portland giving it away 16 times a game to the Lakers' 12 and the defense, the Lakers allowing 115 a night to Portland's 123. Call it the Lakers 118, Portland 111.
12/23 vs DET 114-117 — LAL notes
LAL lost 114-117. LAL shot 54% (40 of 74) to DET's 51%, 14 of 30 from three, and went to the line 25 times to DET's 12 — 20 points from the stripe to their 12. LAL turned it over 18 times to DET's 12, and DET turned those into 12 steals. James led with 28 (10 of 16, 2 of 4 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Davis added 19, Christie 17. Q2 was theirs, 32-28, turning a 2-point deficit into a 2-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 89-82 against them. They led by as many as 10. Vincent's -22 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/25 @ GSW 115-113 — LAL notes
LAL won 115-113. LAL shot 45% (41 of 91) to GSW's 46%, 15 of 42 from three. James led with 31 (12 of 22, 2 of 4 from three); Reaves added 26, Hachimura 18. The hinge was Q3, 29-24: a lead of 3 became 8. Knecht was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
12/28 vs SAC 132-122 — LAL notes
LAL won 132-122. LAL shot 60% (46 of 77) to SAC's 51%, 14 of 26 from three, and went to the line 33 times to SAC's 15 — 26 points from the stripe to their 11. Davis led with 36 (12 of 16, 11 of 13 at the line); Reaves added 26, Hachimura 21. The hinge was Q3, 42-24: LAL came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 17, and the lead reached 20. LAL trailed 65-66 at the half and won the second half 67-56. Davis was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
12/31 vs CLE 110-122 — LAL notes
LAL lost 110-122. LAL shot 44% (42 of 95) to CLE's 48%, 9 of 35 from three. Reaves led with 35 (11 of 20, 1 of 4 from three, 12 of 13 at the line); Davis added 28, James 23. Q2 was theirs, 23-24, but the other 3 periods went 98-87 against them. Hachimura's -17 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/02 vs POR 114-106 — LAL notes
LAL won 114-106. LAL shot 46% (43 of 94) to POR's 50%, 15 of 43 from three, and got to the line 14 times to POR's 21. LAL turned it over 12 times to POR's 18. James led with 38 (15 of 25, 7 of 10 from three); Christie added 28, Reaves 15. The hinge was Q2, 33-20: LAL came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 9, and the lead reached 15. Finney-Smith was the night's best plus/minus at +11.
1/03 vs ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; James at 30 and Reaves at 23 a game. Without Vincent (2 straight), Vanderbilt (27 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Atlanta comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 28 free throws a game; Young at 26 and Johnson at 22 a game. Without Bogdanović (5 straight), Nance Jr. (2 straight), Gueye (26 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Atlanta takes 28 free throws a game to the Lakers' 22. Call it Atlanta 118, the Lakers 117, the Lakers keeping it close.
1/05 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 107, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 18 free throws a game; Green at 22 and Sengun at 21 a game. Without Thompson (2 straight), Eason (8 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; James at 30 and Reaves at 24 a game. Without Vincent (3 straight), Vanderbilt (28 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 38 percent from three to Houston's 33. Call it Houston 113, the Lakers 109, the Lakers keeping it close.
1/07 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 120, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Washington at 16 and Grimes at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Irving (2 straight), Edwards (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Davis at 28 and James at 28 a game. Without Vincent (4 straight), Vanderbilt (29 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where the Lakers have been minus-1 a night and Dallas minus-5 and the turnovers, Dallas giving it away 15 times a game to the Lakers' 12. Call it the Lakers 115, Dallas 114, Dallas keeping it close.
1/13 vs SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 113, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; James at 26 and Davis at 24 a game. Without Vanderbilt (30 straight). 5 days' rest. San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 111, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 16 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 23 and Johnson at 16 a game. That is 3 straight losses. 4 days' rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where San Antonio has been plus-4 a night and the Lakers minus-2 and the arc, the Lakers at 36 percent from three to San Antonio's 31. Call it the Lakers 113, San Antonio 111, San Antonio keeping it close.
12/23 @ DAL 108-132 — POR notes
POR lost 108-132. POR shot 46% (43 of 93) to DAL's 53%, 8 of 29 from three, and got to the line 19 times to DAL's 34. POR turned it over 18 times to DAL's 10, and DAL turned those into 10 steals. Avdija led with 19 (6 of 11, 2 of 4 from three, 5 of 8 at the line); Ayton added 16, Henderson 14. Q1 was theirs, 31-28, but the other 3 periods went 104-77 against them. Simons's -22 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/26 vs UTA 122-120 — POR notes
POR won 122-120. POR shot 51% (45 of 89) to UTA's 48%, 15 of 38 from three. Avdija led with 27 (9 of 13, 2 of 4 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Sharpe added 27, Ayton 18. The hinge was Q4, 41-32: POR came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 2. Henderson was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
12/28 vs DAL 126-122 — POR notes
POR won 126-122. POR shot 50% (46 of 92) to DAL's 48%, 11 of 26 from three. The glass went 50-40 for them. Sharpe led with 23 (9 of 18, 2 of 4 from three); Simons added 22, Ayton 21. The hinge was Q1, 36-25: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 21. Sharpe was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
12/30 vs PHI 103-125 — POR notes
POR lost 103-125. POR shot 48% (37 of 77) to PHI's 57%, 8 of 36 from three. POR turned it over 24 times to PHI's 19, and PHI turned those into 12 steals. Simons led with 25 (9 of 18, 4 of 10 from three); Avdija added 17, Sharpe 12. Q1 was theirs, 31-33, but the other 3 periods went 92-72 against them. Sharpe's -25 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/02 @ LAL 106-114 — POR notes
POR lost 106-114. POR shot 50% (40 of 80) to LAL's 46%, 9 of 26 from three, and went to the line 21 times to LAL's 14 — 17 points from the stripe to their 13. POR turned it over 18 times to LAL's 12, and LAL turned those into 8 steals. Simons led with 23 (8 of 17, 4 of 9 from three); Sharpe added 19, Avdija 19. Q4 was theirs, 31-26, the deficit cut from 13 to 8, but the other 3 periods went 88-75 against them. Ayton's -14 in 21 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/04 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 109, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Lillard at 20 and Middleton at 18 a game. Without Wright (3 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 123, shooting 49 percent and 33 from three, 24 free throws a game; Avdija at 21 and Sharpe at 19 a game. Without Grant (2 straight), Thybulle (33 straight). One day's rest.
So: Milwaukee wins, and the game turns on the defense, Milwaukee allowing 109 a night to Portland's 123 and the glass, where Portland has been plus-3 a night and Milwaukee minus-2. Call it Milwaukee 117, Portland 109.
1/06 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Cunningham at 25 and Ivey at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Fontecchio (3 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Simons at 21 and Avdija at 21 a game. Without Grant (3 straight), Thybulle (34 straight), Williams III (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Detroit wins, and the game turns on the defense, Detroit allowing 108 a night to Portland's 117. Call it Detroit 115, Portland 110.
1/08 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; McCollum at 27 and Murphy III at 23 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Green (3 straight), Payton (15 straight), Matković (16 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 116, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Simons at 27 and Avdija at 18 a game. Without Grant (4 straight), Thybulle (35 straight), Williams III (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been plus-3 a night and New Orleans minus-5 and the turnovers, Portland giving it away 18 times a game to New Orleans's 12. Call it New Orleans 114, Portland 111, Portland keeping it close.
1/09 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Washington at 18 and Grimes at 17 a game. Without Irving (3 straight), Edwards (4 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 112, shooting 51 percent and 35 from three, 16 free throws a game; Simons at 26 and Avdija at 19 a game. Without Grant (5 straight), Thybulle (36 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Dallas wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Dallas 115, Portland 109.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
LALAR A. Reaves
CK C. Koloko
CR C. Reddish
DF D. Finney-Smith
DK D. Knecht
JH J. Hayes
LJ L. James
MC M. Christie
RH R. Hachimura
SM S. Milton
PORAS A. Simons
DA D. Avdija
DA D. Ayton
DB D. Banton
DC D. Clingan
KM K. Murray
SH S. Henderson
SS S. Sharpe
TC T. Camara
LAL/POR the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
LeBron James, Max Christie carry Lakers past Blazers 114-106 for their 6th win in 8 games
LOS ANGELES -- — LeBron James scored 38 points, Max Christie had a career-high 28 and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame Anthony Davis ' absence for a 114-106 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night.
James hit a season-high seven 3-pointers and Christie added five for the Lakers, who have won six of eight. Austin Reaves contributed 15 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds as Los Angeles hung on to beat Portland for the fifth straight time.
Davis sat out for only the second time this season to rest his sprained left ankle, which the star big man hurt on Christmas. Point guard Gabe Vincent also sat with a hip injury.
Anfernee Simons scored 11 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter for the Blazers, who have lost four of six. Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avdija added 19 points apiece.
Jaxson Hayes had four points while starting in Davis’ spot in his return from a 15-game injury absence.
Dorian Finney-Smith scored three points and Shake Milton had four in the veterans' second game for the Lakers since arriving in a trade with Brooklyn .
Takeaways Trail Blazers: The first and fourth quarters were promising, but they waited too long to get aggressive in the opener of a five-game road trip after going 3-9 in December.
Lakers: Christie is emerging as a key contributor in his third season. He has scored in double digits for the fourth time in five games, providing 3-and-D excellence.
Key moment Portland trailed 99-86 with 6:13 to play, but made a 14-4 run. James and Christie combined for 11 points down the stretch, capped by James' seventh 3-pointer with 59 seconds left.
Key stat 14 of 24 — James' 3-point shooting over the past four games. He turned 40 midway through this torrid stretch.
Up next The Lakers host Atlanta on Friday. The Blazers visit Damian Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.