"Even though I missed a few of them early on, I felt like I had a good rhythm and just tried to make plays for myself and my teammates.". I didn’t feel like I performed to the level I needed to,” Davis said. 3) may be right behind him. View photos for Photos » Trail Blazers vs. Lakers, Game 3 ... Blazers And Lakers, Both Desperate For A Win, Face Off Friday In L.A. Then, with a nine-point lead and less than two minutes to go, James found himself isolated against 7-footer Jusuf Nurkic, who has been running on fumes for a few games now. He did become the first player in NBA history with at least 20 points, 15 rebounds, and 15 assists in a playoff game in Game 1. For a player with so many clicks on the NBA odometer, it's fitting that James compared himself to a classic car following the Game 3 performance. Sometimes I was in gear one, sometimes I was in gear six, being able to just read and react if I was in a school zone, if I was in a residential area, if I was on the highway, if I was on a straightaway," James said. The totals aren’t much different from his 28-point, 11-rebound performance in Game 1, but he was much more aggressive and efficient and didn’t settle for jumpers. "Tonight I just wanted to try to be aggressive -- see if I can get into the paint, see if I can find my guys. Harrison Faigen of Silver Screen and Roll examined. LeBron gives high praise to AD following Game 3 win. In Game 3 he clearly got into the lane with the intent to score and/or get fouled rather than distribute, only passing on three of his 13 drives. Game: Portland Blazers vs Los Angeles Lakers Date: Friday, February 26, 2021 Location: STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA TV: ESPN Odds/Point Spread: Portland (+4.5) The Portland Blazers … "It was like a stick shift. 1:02. But he’s also no. And I was able to do that early, get to the line," James said after the game. 6-keys: media/spln/nba/reg/free/stories, at Maybe LeBron is just saving himself for a long playoff run. 8 all time in career minutes (48,551) and no. Damian Lillard led the way for Portland with 18 points, but made only one of his seven three-point attempts. With the Lakers trailing and shooting 1-for-5 from 3-point range in the first quarter, James took it upon himself to make sure his team's offensive bubble woes didn't resurface by imposing his will while bodying defenders and finishing through contact. That ratio is much more in line with LeBron's 2017-18 postseason with the Cleveland Cavaliers, perhaps the best individual playoff performance of his career, when he averaged 18.5 drives per game and passed 25.6 percent of the time. By the end of Saturday night's 116-108 Game 3 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, James had emphatically put those questions to bed while giving the Lakers a 2-1 lead in the series. • You can watch the Blazers vs. Lakers Game 3 live for FREE with FuboTV (free trial). Both teams are … The only upside for Portland from Thursday’s game was that it allowed Terry Stotts to rest the starters in the fourth quarter. But James is confident that, even outside of the comforts of his own home, he can keep his body and mind prepared for the potentially long journey ahead, which continues with Game 4 against the Blazers on Monday. Series tied, one game apiece. "Being able to have a car that can go different speeds in different zones, depending on traffic, is key.". How many times have we seen LeBron shoot his patented step-back 3-pointer in this situation? 2 before retiring at the end of the season. Los Angeles beat Portland in pretty much every aspect in Game 2. Pau Gasol (no. Just when people started to doubt him, he came out looking a lot more like vintage LeBron on Saturday. Game 2 he shot the ball well. The Equality Act might change that. It seems like an unfounded query given LeBron's dominance this season and immaculate track record in the playoffs, but the truth remains that we hadn't seen Freight Train LeBron simply bulldoze an opponent into submission since the Los Angeles Lakers arrived in Orlando. Lillard scores 34 and Blazers beat Lakers 100-93 in Game 1. Now Playing. You can see he thinks about it, but instead decides to get to the rim, icing the game with a bucket. Trail Blazers vs. Lakers Betting Prediction The Trail Blazers are 22-8 against the spread in their last 30 meetings with the Lakers in L.A. They’re also 6-1 against the number in their last seven games as an underdog, are 4-1 against the spread in their last five road games and are 7-2 at the betting window in their last nine games … As manufactured as LeBron James' perceived slights punctuated with the #WashedKing tagline may seem, his time in the bubble prior to Saturday had generated one legitimate question making the rounds with casual fans and pundits alike: Is LeBron still capable of dominating a playoff game by scoring? The Lakers broke open a close game with a 14-4 run led by Schröder late in the third quarter. He’s a huge part of what we’ve done, he exemplifies our ‘play harder than our opponent’ mindset. The Blazers have lost to the Warriors, Lakers, … He said it’s one game and as a guy who’s won multiple championships and has been in these situations before, he knows what to expect,” Davis said. This was a message. Minneapolis prepares for potential unrest ahead of trial in George Floyd killing. James’ 25.8 average ranks 12 th and his Lakers are favored by 5.5 points with the over/under set at 222. LeBron James (38 points) Highlights vs. Portland Trail Blazers. As soon as I'm done talking to you, Cassidy, I'm gonna go to this locker room and get prepared -- start getting my body right, start getting the nutrients and everything put in my body to get going again, so I can be ready and play at a high level once again in Game 4.". LeBron had 27 drives combined in the first two games of the series but he passed on 44 percent of them, according to NBA.com. Show full articles without "Continue Reading" button for {0} hours. The Los Angeles Lakers will take on the Portland Trail Blazers … Golden State was in a tough position by the half, … Facebook; Twitter; Facebook Messenger; Pinterest; Email; print; LOS ANGELES -- — LeBron James had 28 points, Dennis Schröder added 22 in his return to the Lakers' lineup, and Los Angeles snapped its four-game losing streak with a 102-93 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers … Aug 22, 2020 | 01:54. By the end of Saturday night's 116-108 Game 3 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, James had emphatically put those questions to bed while giving the Lakers a 2-1 lead in the series. The 17 free-throw attempts were the most for LeBron since the 2017 playoffs, when he made 15-of-21 from the stripe against the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference finals, and they were a result of a singular mentality that LeBron established from the outset of Game 3: I'm getting to the rim. Lillard left the game in the third quarter with a dislocated finger on his left hand. But both games he played really well. So it starts right now. © 2004-2021 CBS Interactive. In Game 3 of their first round series with the Portland Trail Blazers, the Los Angeles Lakers simply outlasted their opponent, outscoring the Blazers 63-51 in the second half to take a 2-1 … Here we look at the Match Preview and TV Schedule for the game. He was great tonight.”. He averaged 22 points in seeding games, scoring 20 or fewer in four of them, and was noticeably passive when it came to looking for his own shot. The odds are that he will eventually explode for a 30- or 40-point game against a defense as poor as the Blazers’. Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. View photos for Photos » Trail Blazers vs. Lakers, Game 3. But the Lakers may still have to make some concessions to his age as the level of competition increases down the line in the playoffs. Get a recap of the Portland Trail Blazers vs. Los Angeles Lakers basketball game. "First thing you start thinking about right now is the body," James told ESPN's Cassidy Hubbarth after Game 3. Playing every other day with the load that he has to bear on both ends of the court would be difficult for any star, let alone a 35 year old nursing a groin injury. “Both games he played extremely well. Watch highlights from the Blazers-Lakers game three matchup on YouTube: Down in the series 2-1, Anthony, CJ McCollum and the Bubble’s Most Valuable Player Damian Lillard will lace up against the Lakers for game … The series tie between the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers was broken tonight, but it did not break Rip City’s way. The Blazers fell 116-108 in Game 3 of their first round … "It's important to get optimal sleep, get your recovery, do everything you can to get your body prepared to get right back at it. Kids still aren't learning LGBTQ history. James scored 38 points, more than he scored in the first two games of the series combined, on 11-18 shooting and 12-17 free-throw shooting. Lakers vs. Blazers score, takeaways: LeBron James flirts with triple-double, puts L.A. ahead in the series The top-seeded Lakers dropped Game 1, but have now won two straight against the Blazers All Rights Reserved. Because it was just one game.”, Like us on Facebook to see similar stories. Get a preview of the Golden State Warriors vs. Portland Trail Blazers basketball game. ... LeBron gives high praise to AD following Game 3 win. The Portland Trail Blazers head into Game 3 licking their wounds after suffering their worst loss in Orlando’s bubble. “(LeBron) let me have my moment and kind of get on myself and then he talked to me.”, “He said I was fine. Lakers vs. Blazers Game 3, 08/22/2020. Lillard is averaging 29.6 points a game, which is fourth in the NBA. Against the nine best teams in the West entering Tuesday, Portland was 3-7 with wins over the Los Angeles Lakers, the Warriors and Dallas. The Warriors suffered a grim 117-91 defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. By thinking score first and dominating the paint in the first half, LeBron drew the attention of the defense in the second half, leading to open, rhythm shots for his teammates -- five of his eight assists came after intermission. 1 among active players. Jonathan Tjarks of The Ringer wonders if LeBron is showing his age: Maybe this is nothing. In his 17th season, LeBron is still big and skilled enough to dominate without being the best athlete on the floor. 1:40 am ET, Conley to replace Booker in All-Star Game, How to watch: 3-Point Contest, Dunk Contest, Mitchell, Gobert fined for criticism of officiating, Rookie Rankings: LaMelo on top entering break, The state of the East at the All-Star break, Jazz's Conley to replace Booker in All-Star Game, Report: Nets the favorite to sign Griffin after buyout, Jazz's Mitchell, Gobert fined for criticism of officiating, Report: Lakers and Heat now in on Rockets' Tucker. Get a summary of the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers basketball game. The Los Angeles Lakers will take on the Portland Trail Blazers in game 3 of the first round NBA playoffs this season. Blazers injuries: Rodney Hood (out), Trevor Ariza (opted out), Caleb Swanigan (opted out), Zach Collins (out), Nassir Little (out), Lakers injuries: Avery Bradley (opted out), Rajon Rondo (questionable), How to watch on TV: ABC (or check out Fubo for your streaming needs). The problem with cars that have 17 seasons worth of miles on them, however, is that eventually when you try to shift to gear six, the transmission falls out and you're stranded on the side of the interstate. The Blazers have been the darling of the bubble. Lillard is expected to play in Game 3, but will be wearing a splint. Blazers vs. Lakers money line: Lakers -200, Blazers +175 POR: The Blazers are 7-3 against the spread in the last 10 games LAL: The Lakers are 2-8 against the spread in the last 10 games Game 1 he didn’t. Per ESPN, Portland Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts confirmed while speaking with reporters on Friday that guard Damian Lillard will play versus the Los Angeles Lakers for Saturday's Game 3 … Anthony Davis led the way for the Lakers with 31 points and 11 rebounds. Harrison Faigen of Silver Screen and Roll examined Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s bounceback Game 2: [W]hen Caldwell-Pope is the one making the defense pay for sending extra bodies at James and Davis, he will get the credit for all the other things he does to help his team, too, from the energy he brings to the way he chases around opposing guards defensively. That's the worry with James in these particular playoffs. “I’m really happy for KCP,” [coach Frank] Vogel said. Trail Blazers vs Lakers … The Los Angeles Lakers held Portland to their lowest score since … “He knew what to expect from his teammates and he kind of just was there for me to kind of encourage me and keep me level-headed. The Los Angeles Lakers held Portland to their lowest score since December 2018 in a 111-88 beat down. Mark Medina of USA Today wrote about the relationship between Anthony Davis and LeBron James: “I was really down on myself after Game 1. The Lakers broke open a close game with a 14-4 run led by Schröder late in the third quarter. The Los Angeles Lakers return to Staples Center to start a three-game homestand, as Damian Lillard and the fifth-seed Portland Trail Blazers mark their first opponents. Get a recap of the Portland Trail Blazers vs. Los Angeles Lakers basketball game. Vince Carter was no. And then also at the same time you have half your brain thinking about your opponent as well. Lakers 111, Trail Blazers 88. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nba | pageType: stories | section: | slug: lakers-vs-blazers-game-3-lebron-james-went-into-vintage-freight-train-mode-when-his-team-needed-it-the-most | sport: basketball | route: article_single.us | The Portland Trail Blazers head into Game 3 licking their wounds after suffering their worst loss in Orlando’s bubble. Davis remained true to his word right away but putting up 11 points, five rebounds and two assists in … This wasn’t a game. The Trail Blazers (18-13) have lost three straight games, including dropping a 111-106 decision against the Nuggets on Wednesday in Denver. Watch here as he draws four defenders and kicks the ball out to Anthony Davis, who swings it to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for a wide-open 3-pointer. James … Covering the impact of coronavirus on the sports world.