LeBron James tied a season-high with 35 points and the Los Angeles Lakers snapped a six-game losing streak with a 107-95 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in the in-season championship game on Friday night.
Anthony Davis scored 16 points and 14 rebounds, and the Lakers advanced to the regular season with a 3-0 score in Group A.
Jerami Grant scored 24 points for Portland. Due to this loss, the Trail Blazers lost 1-2 in the tournament and missed the group stage.
The Lakers led by as many as 17 points in the final quarter. Fans walked out after Hachimura’s 3-pointer gave Los Angeles a 97-83 lead with just over seven minutes left.
James was listed as questionable with a calf contusion, but he started and played with a sleeve on his calf, finishing with nine assists.
Los Angeles kept its starters until late because the point differential was important in the group standings.
The Lakers led by as many as 13 points in the first quarter and led 30-23 entering the second quarter. D’Angelo Russell’s 3-pointer extended the lead to 54-40, then led 60-50 entering halftime.
Jerami Grant’s three-pointer and free throws narrowed Portland’s gap to 63-60 early in the third quarter. Skylar Mays hit a three-pointer and the Trail Blazers chased the score to 68-67.
Russell scored 14 points for the Lakers, who lost 125-110 to the Sacramento Kings, who ended their three-game winning streak.
Deandre Ayton had 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Trail Blazers.
After the departure of All-Star Damian Lillard in the offseason, the Trail Blazers have been plagued by injuries during the rebuilding process. Starting guard Anfernee Simons (right thumb), rookie Scott Henderson ( Right ankle) and Malcolm Brogdon (left hamstring) are both out.
“We’re still so young. A lot of times, even our drills and shootarounds, we spend most of our time talking about our concepts or what we want to do, and a little bit of time talking about the Lakers or the Grizzlies or whatever. team,ā coach Chauncey Billups said. “We still have a lot to learn.”
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Lakers: Host the Houston Rockets on Sunday.
Trail Blazers: Host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday.