The LA Lakers were more than confident against the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 4 of the Western Conference 1st round playoffs. The final result was 135-115 for the LAL, who set the tone right away, creating a distance and, after that, keeping the same without any problems.
Lakers won the opening period with 43-25, not allowing the Trail Blazers to have the slightest chance for making a positive result in this one. They were up 80-51 at the halftime, solving everything considering this match, and setting the highest-scoring halftime in the playoffs since 1987.
Portland wouldn’t score for 3:59 since the tip-off, while on the other side, the Lakers poted 15 points during that time, indicating that they are in the mood for inflicting the pain to the rivals. The highest lead team from LA had in tonight’s clash, was 37 points, early in the third, 91-54.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGvHAw-6tYI
It seems that the LA’s players were motivated because of Kobe Bryant’s Day (8/24) and that this gave him extra fuel against the Blazers this Monday evening.
“To be able to continue his legacy is something that hits home for me, and it’s easy for me because I put in the work,” LeBron James said.
LBJ finished the match with 30 points, 10 assists and six boards, missing just two of his 12 shots and delivering four threes.
Anthony Davis had 18 points with five boards and dimes each, adding two blocks as well in 18 minutes. Danny Green contributed with 14 buckets, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 12.
Kyle Kuzma and Dwight Howard were pretty good off the bench combining 31 points. Kuzma had 19, drilling five threes, while Howard added 13 with 8 boards.
Overall, the Lakers were good from downtown with 17 hits in 39 attempts. They would also record 29 assists.
On the other side, Portland saw its best player Damian Lillard leaving the floor in the third, due to a right knee issue. He already has problems with the dislocated index finger. On top of everything, his sidekick CJ McCollum also has injuries troubling him, as he plays with a fractured lower-back vertebra.
Damian Lillard left the court with an apparent leg injury. pic.twitter.com/GXG8Iq44or
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 25, 2020
Lillard scored 11 points, McCollum had 18. Jusuf Nurkic posted a team-high 20 points adding 13 boards and four assists. Carmelo Anthony had 16 buckets, while Hassan Whiteside and Mario Hezonja added 11 each. Gary Trent Jr. had 13 points.
Game 5 is set for Wednesday, and right now, Lillard’s status is questionable. Even with him healthy, the Lakers are massive favorites to close down the series, and without him, that difference would be even greater.
