The Portland Trail Blazers continued their impressive start to the 2026-27 NBA season with a 136-129 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, overcoming a 41-point performance from Luka Doncic to remain undefeated.
Ja Morant and Deni Avdija led Portland with 23 points apiece, while Damian Lillard delivered a crucial three-pointer in the closing seconds to help seal the road victory. Jrue Holiday added 22 points as the Trail Blazers improved to 3-0 under new head coach Micah Nori.
Doncic finished with 41 points and nine assists, but his outstanding performance was not enough to prevent Los Angeles from suffering its first defeat of the season.
Austin Reaves contributed 26 points for the Lakers, while Sandro Mamukelashvili added 17.
Lillard Delivers When Portland Needs Him Most
The game remained competitive deep into the fourth quarter after Portland built an eight-point advantage early in the period. Doncic returned to the floor and helped spark a Lakers comeback, keeping the home team within striking distance.
Both sides traded important baskets during the closing minutes. Avdija and Lillard connected on consecutive three-pointers for Portland, only for Doncic and Ziaire Williams to respond and keep Los Angeles in contention.
Morant then stepped up with midrange jumpers on consecutive possessions, giving Portland a five-point cushion.
Lillard delivered the decisive blow with a three-pointer with 43 seconds remaining. It was his fourth three of the night and provided the separation Portland needed to secure the win.
The 36-year-old guard finished with 21 points. Although he uncharacteristically missed four free throws, his late-game shooting proved pivotal as the Trail Blazers maintained their perfect record.
Doncic’s 41 Points Not Enough for Lakers
Doncic produced another outstanding scoring performance, finishing with 41 points and nine assists in the Lakers' first loss of the campaign.
The Slovenian star knocked down six three-pointers and continued his strong offensive form after scoring 52 points against Utah over the weekend. He has now reached the 50-point mark 10 times in less than two years with the Lakers.
Doncic also showed noticeable engagement on defense, but Portland's balanced attack made it difficult for Los Angeles to contain the visitors throughout the game.
He scored 16 points in the opening quarter, giving the Lakers an early offensive boost. However, Portland's efficiency before halftime helped the visitors remain in control of the contest.
The Trail Blazers missed only 10 shots in the entire first half, putting pressure on the Lakers to keep pace offensively.
Mamukelashvili helped Los Angeles stay competitive, scoring 13 points before halftime and finishing the period with a three-pointer at the buzzer.
Portland's Balanced Scoring Makes the Difference
While Doncic carried much of the Lakers' scoring responsibility, Portland received significant contributions from several players.
Morant and Avdija each scored 23 points, giving the Trail Blazers two reliable offensive options alongside Lillard. Holiday's 22 points added another dimension to a lineup that consistently found ways to score.
That distribution proved particularly important during the final minutes, when Portland needed to answer the Lakers' comeback attempts.
The victory also extended the Trail Blazers' strong start under Nori. Portland's 3-0 record represents the franchise's second season-opening three-game winning streak in the past 15 years.
The Blazers closed the contest with a decisive 15-8 run, demonstrating their ability to execute under pressure against a Lakers team led by one of the league's most productive scorers.
For Los Angeles, the defeat ended its unbeaten start despite a major individual performance from Doncic and a productive night from Reaves.
What's Next?
The Trail Blazers will return home to face the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday as they look to extend their winning streak.
The Lakers have a much quicker turnaround, with a matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers scheduled for Wednesday.
Portland will aim to carry its early momentum forward, while the Lakers will look to respond after their first setback of the season.
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