The Los Angeles Lakers managed to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 110-102 on Thursday night, fueled by LeBron James’ 40 points and Austin Reaves’ 32 points. James took control in the crucial moments, scoring 40 points and contributing eight consecutive points during a key stretch in the fourth quarter, leading the Lakers to victory. With Luka Doncic sidelined with a calf strain, Reaves stepped up as the secondary scorer, recording a season-high 32 points to secure the win.

The Lakers built a solid 40-22 lead in the second quarter after a dominant two-handed dunk from James. However, Portland fought back to tie the game at 81 early in the fourth. At that point, James took over. After Reaves put the Lakers back ahead with a scoop shot, James nailed two back-to-back 3-pointers, followed by a fadeaway jumper to cap an eight-point run that stretched the lead to 89-81. He then made another jumper following a Blazers timeout, extending the Lakers’ lead to nine. Reaves sealed the victory from the free-throw line, where the Lakers excelled by making 23 of 25 free throws (92%) compared to Portland’s 14 of 21 (67%).

Head coach JJ Redick commended James’ leadership, particularly in building chemistry with Doncic since his arrival. “He’s all in, and he’s been that way for several months,” Redick remarked. With James leading the way and Reaves stepping up in crunch time, the Lakers maintained their control late in the game, securing a crucial victory. Here’s a performance grade for each Lakers player.

LeBron James: A-
Stats: 40 PTS, 8 REB (0 OREB, 8 DREB), 4 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 11 TO, 2 PF, 14-24 FG, 4-8 3PT, 8-8 FT, +8, 36 MIN
LeBron showcased why he remains a dominant force in the league with a superb 40-point outing. He took over in the fourth quarter, scoring eight straight points to shift the momentum in the Lakers’ favor after the game was tied. His shooting was efficient (14-of-24 from the field, 8-of-8 from the free-throw line), but his 11 turnovers stood out as a downside, caused by careless passing and over-dribbling. Despite this, his leadership and clutch scoring played a major role in the win.

Austin Reaves: A-
Stats: 32 PTS, 1 REB (1 OREB, 0 DREB), 7 AST, 2 STL, 2 BLK, 6 TO, 2 PF, 9-21 FG, 2-8 3PT, 12-13 FT, +5, 40 MIN
Reaves stepped up in the absence of Luka Doncic, delivering a season-high 32 points while showing poise as the Lakers’ second scoring option. He attacked the rim consistently, drawing fouls and converting 12-of-13 free throws. His seven assists showed his playmaking ability. However, his shooting struggles from beyond the arc (2-of-8) and six turnovers slightly diminished his overall performance. Still, his fearless play and defensive contributions were vital for the Lakers’ victory.

Dorian Finney-Smith: C+
Stats: 10 PTS, 6 REB (1 OREB, 5 DREB), 0 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 1 PF, 4-7 FG, 2-5 3PT, 0-0 FT, +20, 33 MIN
Finney-Smith made an effective two-way contribution, scoring 10 points and grabbing six rebounds, including two key steals and a block. His timely three-pointers helped stretch the lead. Though his offensive impact was limited, his strong defensive play and a notable +20 plus/minus showed his positive influence on the game.

Jaxson Hayes: C+
Stats: 9 PTS, 7 REB (2 OREB, 5 DREB), 4 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 4-7 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-2 FT, +2, 28 MIN
Hayes contributed across the board, scoring nine points and grabbing seven rebounds, while also adding four assists. He was solid on defense with a block, but struggled to finish through contact. His contributions were modest, but his hustle and presence in the paint helped the Lakers maintain their lead.

Rui Hachimura: C+
Stats: 6 PTS, 12 REB (4 OREB, 8 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 3-7 FG, 0-3 3PT, 0-0 FT, 0, 35 MIN
Hachimura struggled offensively, scoring just six points but contributed significantly with 12 rebounds, including four offensive boards. While his shooting (3-of-7) and lack of free-throw attempts hindered his offensive impact, his rebounding helped the Lakers maintain possession. The Lakers needed more scoring from him, especially with Doncic out.

Trey Jemison III: C+
Stats: 6 PTS, 4 REB (2 OREB, 2 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 3-5 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +6, 14 MIN
Jemison made an efficient impact in his limited minutes, scoring six points and grabbing four rebounds. He didn’t contribute in assists or defense, but his physicality and hustle helped keep the Lakers competitive in the paint. Though his role was small, he played effectively during his time on the floor.

Gabe Vincent: C+
Stats: 7 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 1 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 3 PF, 2-7 FG, 1-6 3PT, 2-2 FT, 0, 16 MIN
Vincent struggled with his shooting, making just 2-of-7 from the field and 1-of-6 from three. However, he contributed defensively with a steal and provided some energy during his 16 minutes on the floor. Despite his shooting woes, he contributed with free throws and had some positive moments defensively.

Jordan Goodwin: C
Stats: 0 PTS, 5 REB (1 OREB, 4 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, -8, 20 MIN
Goodwin had a quiet game offensively, failing to score in 20 minutes of play. Although he grabbed five rebounds, he struggled to contribute offensively and didn’t make an impact in playmaking. His -8 plus/minus reflected the struggles in keeping up with Portland’s offense, as he didn’t generate much on either end.

Dalton Knecht: C-
Stats: 0 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 0-2 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, +7, 13 MIN
Knecht had a tough night, going scoreless in his 13 minutes and missing both of his shot attempts. Though he grabbed two rebounds and dished out two assists, his limited impact on both offense and defense made it difficult for him to find a rhythm. His lack of aggression and minimal role contributed to his quiet performance.