PORTLAND, Ore. — The Lakers’ injuries are stacking up, and they proved too much to overcome on Saturday night.
Shaedon Sharpe had 25 points to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 132-116 victory over the Lakers, who were playing without league-leading scorer Luka Doncic and starting center Deandre Ayton then saw veteran guard Marcus Smart limp to the locker room after a fourth-quarter pileup.
Jerami Grant and Caleb Love each added 22 points for the Blazers, who have won seven of their last nine games.
Smart had 25 points for the Lakers before heading for the locker room midway through the fourth. The extent of his injury was not known.
LeBron James finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Drew Timme contributed 21 points off the bench.
Doncic, who is averaging 33.6 points per game, did not play because of left groin soreness. Lakers coach JJ Redick said before the game that Doncic’s MRI was clear and he’s considered day-to-day. Doncic had 39 points in the Lakers’ 135-117 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday night.
Ayton was out because of left knee soreness.
Portland remained without top scorer Deni Avdija, who missed his third game because of a back injury. Avdija is averaging 26.1 ppg and is in line for a spot in next month’s All-Star Game.
The Blazers led by 14 points in the first half, but the Moda Center crowd still cheered loudly when James dunked to close the Lakers within 53-47 in the second quarter. Portland led 71-61 at the half.
James lobbed a pass to Smart, who hit a 3-pointer to pull the Lakers within 75-67 in the third quarter but Sharpe answered with a dunk.
Portland stretched its lead to 24 points late in the game and Redick sent James to the bench with 5:40 left.
UP NEXT
The Lakers host Toronto on Sunday at 6:30 p.m.
JJ: "We don't go into games thinking tonight's gonna be rough. Our belief level, expectations, the standards, they don't change." pic.twitter.com/rfWFO50NJQ
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) January 18, 2026
LeBron James (20 PTS, 9 REB, 8 AST) speaks to the media following the 132-116 loss to the Portland Trailblazers. pic.twitter.com/De3nrmACVn
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) January 18, 2026
Drew Timme (21 PTS, 4 AST, 2 REB) on getting big minutes tonight:
"It's great to see all the work you put in. That's the beauty of the G-League. When or if I'm ever needed, I'm ready." pic.twitter.com/yRcviCrkKo
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) January 18, 2026
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