The Lakers came back to Portland on November 3, 2018, just a couple of weeks after the Blazers had spoiled LeBron James’ Los Angeles debut. Unfortunately, the second meeting didn’t go nearly as well. Watch the original highlights below, then revisit the brutal third quarter and Portland’s frantic comeback attempt.
Historical update: The Lakers end Portland’s winning streak against LA
Updated November 2026: The Lakers beat Portland 114–110 at the Moda Center, dropping the Blazers to 6–3. Portland had won the October 18 opener against LeBron’s new team 128–119, but this time the Lakers got the better of the matchup. It was also their first victory over the Blazers after 16 consecutive losses to Portland.
For a while, the game looked perfectly manageable. Portland led 29–28 after the first quarter and 57–56 at halftime. Then came the third. The Lakers outscored the Blazers 32–16, turning a one-point Portland lead into an 88–73 deficit entering the fourth. Sixteen points in an entire quarter. That’s a fairly effective way to make life difficult for yourself.
The Blazers didn’t quit. Portland poured in 37 fourth-quarter points and cut a lead that had reached 20 points down to a single possession late. But the Lakers made enough plays to hold on, and a furious rally couldn’t erase the damage from that third quarter.
LeBron James led Los Angeles with 28 points and seven assists. The Lakers also got important work from their supporting cast, particularly around the basket. Their bench outscored Portland’s 51–26—a sharp contrast with all the early-season optimism about the Blazers’ reserves.
Looking back, one early-November loss to a LeBron-led Lakers team wasn’t the end of the world. Portland went on to win 53 games and reach the Western Conference Finals, while Los Angeles missed the postseason. Sometimes the team that wins the November matchup doesn’t get the last laugh when the season is over.
For the contrast between the two meetings, check our October 18 Blazers–Lakers highlights. You can also revisit the Pelicans win two days earlier and the official NBA game summary.