LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Following sinking a deep 3-pointer midway by means of the ultimate quarter, Damian Lillard did a small dance and teammate Jusuf Nurkic pointed to his wrist.
This was Dame Time, playoff version.
“Every recreation considering that we’ve been listed here has been a playoff game. So that geared up us for a video game like this,” Lillard said. “It’s only one particular acquire. I’m satisfied to be below competing in the playoffs again, but we have bought to go on to the subsequent one particular.”
Lillard experienced 34 points and the Portland Path Blazers spoiled LeBron James‘ to start with playoff overall look for the Los Angeles Lakers with a 100-93 victory on Tuesday evening in Activity 1 of the teams’ playoff sequence.
James experienced 23 factors, 17 rebounds and 16 assists, getting to be the 1st participant to have as a lot of details, rebounds and assists in the playoffs. It was his 24th article-year triple-double and his helps have been a job playoff higher.
“We had a pair of breakdowns, which you won’t be able to have down the extend, especially in opposition to a team like Portland,” James mentioned.
Jusuf Nurkic experienced 16 details and 15 rebounds for Portland, which led by as a lot of as 16 details in the initially fifty percent. The Lakers, producing their 1st playoff visual appeal since 2013, narrowed the gain to 57-56 at the break and stayed close the relaxation of the way.
Trailing 78-75 going into the remaining interval, the Lakers tied it at 78 on Kyle Kuzma‘s 3-pointer. James’ layup gave Los Angeles the guide, and Kuzma additional a pair of no cost throws and yet another layup to lengthen it to 84-78.
Lillard’s 3-pointer tied it again at 87 with 5:46 to go and CJ McCollum’s floater gave Portland the direct. Lillard said afterward he danced soon after his 3 because the music Blow the Whistle was played in the bubble arena, which Lillard known as the “East Oakland anthem.”
Immediately after Danny Green‘s layup tied it yet again for Los Angeles, Lillard nailed a different 3-pointer. Anthony Davis‘ dunk obtained the Lakers inside 95-93, but Gary Trent Jr. made a 3-pointer that set Portland up 98-93 right before Nurkic dunked to seal it.
Anthony Davis had 28 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers.
Portland gained the to start with play-in put up-year NBA game because 1956, beating Memphis 126-122 on Saturday to make the playoffs for the seventh consecutive time. The Blazers were amongst three teams with shedding all round records to make the bubble playoffs. No team beneath .500 experienced superior to the article-season given that 2015.
The Blazers were with out forward Zach Collins due to the fact of swelling in his still left ankle. Wenyen Gabriel started out in his place.
Portland led by 33-17 in the to start with half soon after Nurkic’s dunk. The Lakers obtained within just 40-38 but couldn’t pull in entrance right up until Davis’ dunk off of James’ go created it 50-49 with just about 3 minute still left in the half. But it was shorter-lived.
The activity was delayed for a time in the very first 50 % when the Lakers’ rim received tilted and experienced to be adjusted.
Tip INS
Trail Blazers: Lillard experienced 48 details in Portland’s 127-119 victory about the Lakers in Los Angeles on Jan. 31. So of program the Lakers ended up going to try out to stop the bubble MVP. But which is no different than each and every other video game, Stotts claimed. “There’s not a large amount that he has not seen or that we haven’t seen,” Stotts claimed. … Portland is also devoid of Rodney Hood, who continues to rehab from an Achilles damage, and Trevor Ariza, who opted not to participate in in Florida.
Lakers: Rajon Rando is in the bubble and has returned to minimal follow heading into the playoff, immediately after currently being out with a fractured remaining thumb. Mentor Frank Vogel claimed Rondo’s “shut, but we will carry on to evaluate it working day by day.”
Record: The teams have fulfilled six situations in a initially-spherical collection, with the Lakers winning five. It is the 12th time the teams have fulfilled in the playoffs.
Crimson HAT: James wore a common purple had, but in its place of the President Trump slogan, the “Great Again” line was crossed out and a line was additional that designed the hat go through: Make America Arrest the Cops who Killed Breonna Taylor.”
UP Future
The series continues with Recreation 2 on Thursday.
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