Published On ۷ Nov ۲۰۲۶
Luka Doncic poured in ۵۳ points to propel the Los Angeles Lakers to a ۱۲۴-۱۱۸ NBA Cup group-stage victory over Portland on Friday as LeBron James’s latest return to Cleveland ended in defeat.
Doncic’s latest big game helped the Lakers shake off a sluggish start that saw them trailing by as many as ۱۶ points in the second quarter.
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Doncic closed the first half with an astonishing shot from well beyond the half-court line, pulling the Lakers within seven points and setting the tone for their second-half surge.
The Trail Blazers had pulled within four points in the final minute when he hit a floater, and the Lakers held on for their fourth straight win.
Doncic has scored at least ۴۰ points in six of his last seven games and joined Elgin Baylor, Kobe Bryant and George Mikan as the only Lakers players to score ۴۰ or more in four straight regular-season contests.
“I’m having a lot of fun,” said Doncic, who added five rebounds and five assists.
“Obviously playing basketball, it’s a lot of fun for me. It’s more [fun] when you play like this and when you win games.”
The ۱۱th ۵۰-point game of Doncic’s career was his fourth with the Lakers – passing LeBron James and tying Mikan for the fourth most for the franchise.
James, who left the Lakers for the Philadelphia ۷۶ers in June, made his first trip as a Sixer to Cleveland, where the Cavs spoiled his latest homecoming with a ۱۱۹-۹۵ victory that snapped Philadelphia’s five-game winning streak.
James, expected by many to opt for a third stint in Cleveland before he chose Philadelphia, was greeted by warm cheers – and scattered boos – when he was introduced.
The four-time NBA champion, playing his ۲۴th NBA season at the age of ۴۱, was cheered again when he exited the game late in the fourth quarter.
LeBron: ‘I did not feel in good rhythm offensively’
In between, it was a rough night for James and his teammates.
The league’s all-time leading scorer finished with eight points on three-of-۱۲ shooting with seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and six turnovers.
Star centre Joel Embiid missed all nine of his shots from the floor, making six free throws for six points.
Jaylen Brown, like James an off-season import, led the Sixers with ۲۰ points, but the Cavaliers seized control early and repelled every Philadelphia surge.
Donovan Mitchell scored ۱۰ of his ۲۳ points in the first quarter. Evan Mobley added ۲۲ points, and Cleveland out-rebounded Philadelphia ۵۶-۴۲ despite the injury absence of centre Jarrett Allen.
“I did not feel in a good rhythm offensively,” James said.
“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.”
Friday’s games were part of NBA Cup group-stage action, which will continue throughout November.
Quarterfinals of the in-season tournament will be played December ۴-۵ and semifinals December ۸-۹ before the final on December ۱۱.
The Boston Celtics drained a whopping ۲۴ three-pointers on ۴۴ attempts in a ۱۱۹-۸۰ blowout of the Hornets in Charlotte.
Jayson Tatum drilled five three-pointers on the way to a game-high ۳۴ points for Boston, who led by as many as ۴۶ in the wire-to-wire win.
Wembanyama fuels Spurs
San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama, coming off a stunning ۵۲-point, ۲۴-rebound performance in a win over Dallas, scored ۳۰ points and pulled down ۱۴ rebounds to lead the Spurs to a ۱۲۴-۱۰۹ victory over the Kings in Sacramento.
The Oklahoma City Thunder continued their dominance of the Grizzlies with a ۱۲۸-۹۷ win in Memphis.
Ajay Mitchell scored a career-high ۳۵ points, and two-time defending NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added ۲۸ for the Thunder, who notched a ۱۳th straight regular-season win over the Grizzlies despite missing injured starters Jaylen Williams, Cason Wallace and Chet Holmgren.
The absences were irrelevant as the Thunder jumped to a ۷۱-۴۹ halftime lead.
