The Portland Trail Blazers struggled to find their rhythm in the first half of Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers, eventually falling 110-102 at home. LeBron James led the way with 40 points and eight rebounds, while Austin Reaves added 32 points on 12 free throws.
The Blazers’ slow start was attributed to rustiness, with coach Chauncey Billups stating they were “really rusty” in the first half. However, Portland forward Deni Avdija led the team’s comeback, scoring 28 points and providing five assists. Camara also had a strong game, producing 19 points and seven rebounds while forcing LeBron James into a career-high 11 turnovers.
The Blazers’ defense was key to their late surge, with Camara and Avdija working together to make James’ job difficult. Despite the team’s efforts, they were unable to overcome the Lakers’ lead and suffered the loss.
In other news, rookie center Donovan Clingan started in place of injured Deandre Ayton and showed promise, but ultimately struggled on defense. Billups noted that the Blazers need to work on their spacing in transition and avoid giving away easy baskets to opposing players.
The team’s struggles have been a recurring theme throughout the season, with many citing rustiness as an issue. As Camara said, “We can use [rust] as an excuse, but it’s a job at the end of the day, so we need to come prepared.” The Blazers will look to bounce back in their next game and find consistency on the court.
Source: https://www.blazersedge.com/2025/2/21/24369781/portland-trail-blazers-la-lakers-lebron-james-doncic-deni-avdija-camara-billups-simons-grant-nba