LOS ANGELES — Well, that was frustrating.
The Portland Trail Blazers built a 16-point lead against the Lakers on Friday night. Then Luka Dončić happened. So did a 17–0 Lakers run. And turnovers. Lots and lots of turnovers.
Portland fought back in the fourth quarter but fell 124–118 in its NBA Cup opener, dropping to 6–2 on the season. The Lakers improved to 8–2.
There was plenty to like early. There was plenty to dislike after that. Let’s get into it.
A Big Lead, a Ridiculous Shot, and a 17–0 Run
The Blazers looked good for much of the first half, leading by as many as 16 points. But Dončić banked in a shot from well beyond half court at the halftime buzzer, cutting Portland’s lead to 60–53.
Of course he did.
The Blazers were still ahead 68–61 in the third quarter. Then the Lakers scored 17 straight points. Just like that, a seven-point Portland lead became a 78–68 deficit.
Ziaire Williams gave Los Angeles the lead with a three-pointer during the run. Portland called timeout after Dončić tied the game, but the Blazers couldn’t stop the slide. The Lakers outscored Portland 34–15 in the third and carried an 87–75 lead into the fourth.
That’s a tough quarter to overcome. Especially when the guy on the other team is playing like he’s trying to score every point himself.
Luka Dončić Was a Problem
I don’t enjoy saying nice things about the Lakers. But Dončić was incredible.
He finished with 53 points, five rebounds, and five assists, shooting 17-for-33 from the field, 5-for-15 from three, and 14-for-18 at the line. He scored 20 points in the third quarter alone. The entire Blazers team scored 15.
Portland cut the deficit to four with less than a minute left, but Dončić answered with a floater. After a night like that, did anyone really think he was going to miss?
Austin Reaves added 25 points, and Walker Kessler finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds. But Luka was the story.
The Turnovers Were Brutal
The Blazers committed 24 turnovers. The Lakers committed 11.
Twenty-four. That’s 13 more possessions handed away than Los Angeles gave up. Against a team with Dončić, that’s a pretty generous gift.
Deni Avdija had a productive night with 22 points, nine rebounds, and 11 assists, but he also had eight turnovers. Damian Lillard scored 22 points and had four turnovers.
It’s frustrating because Portland shot 51.4% from the field and 19-for-43 from three. Those are numbers you’d normally feel pretty good about. But the Lakers took 23 more field-goal attempts, and they grabbed 17 offensive rebounds to Portland’s eight.
You can shoot well and still lose when the other team gets that many extra chances. Unfortunately, we just watched it happen.
Scoot Had a Rough Night
And then there’s Scoot Henderson.
Scoot finished with two points, zero assists, and five turnovers in 22 minutes and 55 seconds. He went 0-for-2 from the field, 2-for-4 at the free-throw line, and picked up five fouls.
That’s a bad game. There’s really no way to dress it up. Portland needs more from its starting point guard, especially with Ja Morant sidelined.
I’m still rooting for Scoot. I want him to figure it out in Portland. But this was a night he’ll want to forget, and the Blazers need him to respond.
Some Growing Pains for Micah Nori, Too
Micah Nori deserves credit for getting this team off to a 6–1 start. One loss doesn’t erase that.
But when a seven-point lead becomes a 10-point deficit without your team scoring, it’s fair to look at the coaching, too. Nori called a timeout during the run, and Portland still couldn’t settle down or find an answer.
How does this team handle the next big swing? How quickly can Nori find a combination that takes care of the ball and gets the offense moving again? Those are questions worth watching as the season goes on.
The players have to make plays, too. A coach can’t take care of the ball for them. Though after 24 turnovers, I would have been willing to let Nori try.
There’s Still Plenty to Like
The Blazers didn’t quit. After falling behind by 16 early in the fourth, Portland put together a 10–0 run and later got within four points. The comeback fell short, but this team kept fighting.
Toumani Camara scored 18 points and hit four threes. Donovan Clingan had 17 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks, making three of his five three-point attempts. Jrue Holiday added 12 points and seven assists off the bench without a turnover.
And let’s keep some perspective: Portland is 6–2. The Blazers went toe-to-toe with a good Lakers team on the road even after giving the ball away 24 times and watching Dončić score 53.
Clean up some of the mistakes, and there’s plenty of reason to believe this team can bounce back. Starting tomorrow would be nice.
Rip City!
Blazers vs. Lakers Box Score — November 6, 2026
Score by Quarter
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | 29 | 31 | 15 | 43 | 118 |
| L.A. Lakers | 20 | 33 | 34 | 37 | 124 |
Team Statistics
| Statistic | Portland | L.A. Lakers |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 36–70 (51.4%) | 42–93 (45.2%) |
| Three-pointers | 19–43 | 11–37 |
| Free throws | 27–37 | 29–37 |
| Player rebounds | 37 | 40 |
| Offensive rebounds | 8 | 17 |
| Assists | 29 | 17 |
| Turnovers | 24 | 11 |
| Steals | 7 | 15 |
| Blocks | 5 | 1 |
Portland Players
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deni Avdija | 22 | 9 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| Toumani Camara | 18 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Donovan Clingan | 17 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Damian Lillard | 22 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Scoot Henderson | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Jrue Holiday | 12 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sidy Cissoko | 7 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Robert Williams III | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Chris Youngblood | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Yang Hansen | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Lakers Players
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luka Dončić | 53 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Austin Reaves | 25 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Walker Kessler | 16 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Matisse Thybulle | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Jake LaRavia | 7 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Quentin Grimes | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Sandro Mamukelashvili | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Ziaire Williams | 8 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Adou Thiero | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Collin Sexton | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
See the complete official box score on NBA.com.
What’s Next?
The Blazers return home to face the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, November 7, at 7 p.m. Pacific at the Moda Center. No time to stew over this one.
For the full schedule and ways to watch, check out my Blazers TV, streaming, and schedule guide.