Lakers Lose 98-94 to Lillard's Blazers

The Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Portland Trail Blazers as Damian Lillard stole the show late with 39 points.

The shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers provided Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers an unlikely scare on Monday night, but the Blazers' point guard would ultimately strike fear into the Lakers' defense before time expired.

Lillard finished with 39 points to beat LA 98-94 in Portland, and the Blazers' point guard was sensational in scoring 16 points in the final six minutes of the game.

For the first three quarters, the Lakers fought hard and played with tremendous fight on both ends of the court. Playing on the second night of a back to back without Kobe Bryant (rest) and Wesley Johnson (strained right hip flexor), the Lakers entered the Moda Center in Portland as long shots to do anything but lose big.

Ryan Kelly and Wayne Ellington replaced Johnson and Bryant in the starting lineup, as Lakers coach Byron Scott opted to leave the Nick Young with the second unit. The coach's gamble worked in large part because forward Jordan Hill had his shooting shoes on early. Hill made his first four shots and tabbed 12 points and five rebounds in the first half.

Ronnie Price added seven points and five assists at the intermission and played a large role in setting up the Lakers' offense and guarding Lillard on the opposite end. Unfortunately, Price caught an elbow at the end of the third quarter and had to leave the game. Price likely broke his nose and received eleven stitches in the while his team slugged out the final quarter.

Through three quarters, the Lakers led by three points and managed to hold Portland to 39.7 percent shooting. Price had 11 points and eight assists when he exited the game, but his importance on the defensive end and setting up the offense could not be fully understood until late in the game.

"That hurt us big time. Ronnie was playing well for us," Scott said after the game. "[Price] will probably have to wear a mask. Broken, fractured or whatever the case may be, but I think he'll be okay for Wednesday."

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To start the final quarter, the Lakers continued to attack and built up a 7-point lead with 5:55 to play in the ball game. From that point forward, Lillard outscored the Lakers 16-11.

"[Lillard] was making shots. He was getting to everywhere he wanted to get to on the court," Lakers coach Byron Scott sounded slightly helpless after the game. "You got to give him a lot of credit. He's a great point guard."

The Lakers' best point guard defender was in the locker room getting stitched up, Lillard sped by defenders. Along with Lillard heating up, the Lakers went cold as the offense stagnated. Were it not for free throws, the Lakers would have struggled to keep up with Lillard's lethal efficiency.

"We just went cold the last two and half [to] three minutes of the game on the offensive end [and] couldn't make a shot," Scott said. "But [I'm] real happy with the way we battled."

The Lakers did not simply wilt away, however. After falling behind by four points with 2:33 to play, the Lakers fought back to take a one-point lead with 43.3 seconds remaining on the clock. After Lillard scored a bucket and hit a couple free throws, the Lakers held the ball with 18.9 seconds to play trailing by three points.

Lin created separation on a step-back three-pointer, but his balance did not allow him to get enough of his legs under the shot. He came up short and fired up an air ball.

"I thought [Lin] had a decent look at it," Scott said afterward. "Unfortunately it was an air ball, but I thought he had a decent look at it."

Overall, the Lakers put together a positive performance despite being down two starters and losing a third starter for the fourth quarter.

Despite the loss and the air ball, Lin said, "I honestly believe we're headed in the right direction."

Notes: Price will see a nose doctor on Tuesday, but the point guard sounded opposed to wearing a mask for Wednesday's game against the LA Clippers. Bryant also expects to return for Wednesday's game. Wesley Johnson may be back in about a week rather than the original several weeks initially feared.
All quotes courtesy of Time Warner Cable Sportsnet.

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