Luka Dončić poured in a season-high 53 points on Friday night to propel the Los Angeles Lakers to a 124-118 comeback victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in NBA Cup group-stage action.
Dončić Sparks Lakers Comeback While Cavaliers Rout Sixers
Dončić’s standout performance featured his sixth 40-point game of the season, marking an NBA best. The guard also became the first Laker to score at least 40 points in four straight regular-season games since Kobe Bryant achieved the feat in 2012, joining Elgin Baylor and George Mikan in franchise history, Al Jazeera reported. The Lakers erased a 16-point deficit in the second quarter, aided by a 61-foot shot from Dončić just before halftime.
Elsewhere in East Group B, the Cleveland Cavaliers handed the Philadelphia 76ers a 119-95 defeat, snapping Philadelphia’s five-game winning streak. Playing without injured center Jarrett Allen due to a knee injury, Cleveland jumped to an early 19-4 run and later sealed the contest with a 12-0 run across the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth. The team relied on 23 points from Donovan Mitchell and 22 points from Evan Mobley.
LeBron James and Joel Embiid Struggle in Cleveland Return
The matchup marked LeBron James’s first visit to Cleveland as a member of the 76ers after leaving the Lakers in June. Playing his 24th NBA season at age 41, James was greeted with warm cheers and scattered boos during introductions. However, the game proved difficult for Philadelphia’s veterans.
James finished with eight points, shooting three-of-12 from the floor with seven rebounds, three assists, two steals, and six turnovers. Philadelphia’s only other loss prior to the contest had been against the Detroit Pistons on the second leg of a back-to-back while missing Embiid and VJ Edgecombe.
I did not feel in a good rhythm offensively, we didn’t look like much offensively. We had a couple of spurts. We were able to cut [the deficit] to three in the third quarter. But too many turnovers on my behalf.
Jaylen Brown led the 76ers with 20 points in the loss.
Quarterfinals and Semifinals Lead to December Final
NBA Cup group-stage matches continue through November, leading to the quarterfinals scheduled for December 4-5 and the semifinals on December 8-9 before the final on December 11.
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