Nick Smith Jr, Lakers stun Blazers without injured James, Doncic and Reaves

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Unheralded Nick Smith Jr led the injury-depleted Los Angeles Lakers to an upset roadworthy triumph implicit the Portland Trail Blazers.

Published On 4 Nov 2025

Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura and Nick Smith Jr each achieved season-best constituent totals arsenic the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers notched a 123-115 triumph implicit the hosts Portland Trail Blazers connected Monday night.

Ayton had 29 points connected 14-of-19 shooting and collected 10 rebounds and 3 blocked shots against his erstwhile teammates.

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Hachimura had 28 points connected 10-of-15 shooting.

Little-known defender Smith was the biggest astonishment with 25 points connected 10-of-15 shooting, including 5 of 6 from 3-point range. He added a season-best six assists arsenic the Lakers won their 4th consecutive contest.

Los Angeles held retired stars Luka Doncic (leg contusion) and Austin Reaves (groin soreness) connected the 2nd nighttime of a back-to-back. Also, LeBron James (sciatica), the NBA’s all-time starring scorer, has yet to play this season.

Smith was not progressive for Los Angeles’ Sunday triumph implicit the Miami Heat, but the absences of Doncic and Reaves got him into the rotation connected Monday, and helium stood retired successful astir 27 minutes disconnected the bench. He scored 10 points successful the 4th quarter.

Deni Avdija scored a season-best 33 points for Portland, which had a three-game winning streak snapped. Shaedon Sharpe added 23 points and 7 rebounds, reserve Jerami Grant scored 18 points and Toumani Camara had 14 points and 7 rebounds.

Los Angeles changeable a sizzling 58.8 percent from the field, including 9 of 23 (39.1 percent) from 3-point range. Jake LaRavia added 11 points for the Lakers.

The Lakers led by 4 earlier LaRavia scored connected the wrong with 3:32 remaining to commencement a 10-0 burst. Smith drained 2 3-pointers successful 26 seconds to springiness the Lakers a 117-105 pb and past fed Ayton for a layup to summation the borderline to 14 with 2:08 to play arsenic Los Angeles closed it out.

The Trail Blazers made 49.4 percent of their shots and were a shaky 9 of 40 (22.5 percent) from down the arc.

Portland opened the 3rd 4th with a 12-4 tally to clasp a nine-point advantage.

The Lakers responded with a 19-4 surge and moved up 75-69 connected a tip-in by Jaxson Hayes with 5:08 near successful the quarter.

A dunk by Hayes made it 84-77 with 2:26 remaining successful the 3rd earlier the Trail Blazers chopped their shortage to 90-86 entering the last stanza.

Avdija scored 14 first-half points arsenic Portland led 53-52 astatine the break. Hachimura enactment up 18 points successful the fractional for the Lakers.

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