LOS ANGELES — Luka Dončić turned another scoring explosion into a comeback victory Friday night, pouring in a season-high 53 points as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 124-118 in NBA Cup play. The Lakers trailed by as many as 16 in the first half before winning their fourth consecutive game. Dončić shot 17-for-33 from the field, added five rebounds and five assists, and scored 20 points in the third quarter to flip the momentum.
Portland had the better start while Los Angeles struggled from three-point range, missing its first 15 attempts. Dončić gave the home crowd a jolt by banking in a 61-foot shot at the halftime buzzer. The Lakers then surged after the break, including a 17-0 run in the third quarter. Portland narrowed a late deficit to four, but Dončić answered with a crucial basket inside the final 30 seconds. Austin Reaves finished with 25 points, and Walker Kessler added 16 points and 12 rebounds. Deni Avdija and Damian Lillard scored 22 apiece for Portland.
Dončić’s 53-point performance was his 11th career 50-point game and his fourth since joining the Lakers. It also marked his fourth consecutive regular-season game with at least 40 points, putting him alongside Lakers names such as Kobe Bryant, Elgin Baylor and George Mikan. Beyond the milestone, Los Angeles avenged an October 27 loss to Portland and showed it can win even after a difficult first half. The Lakers improved to 8-2, with Dončić’s hot start continuing to define their season.