Portland Trail Blazers vs LA Lakers player stats and box score for Dec. 8 game. [photo: Imagn]
The LA Lakers bucked the absence of LeBron James and Austin Reaves to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 107-98 on Sunday. Anthony Davis led his team with 30 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks. D'Angelo Russell, still out of the starting lineup, contributed 28 points, 14 assists and one steal.
Portland closed the gap heading into the fourth quarter behind a stifling defense. The Blazers won the third period 29-18 and trailed 77-74 with 12 minutes left to play. Shaedon Sharpe and Co. could not complete the rally as the Lakers had an answer to their mini-runs.
Russell made a strong case to start again with a 13-point, five-assist performance in the fourth quarter. The point guard's timely shots and playmaking were instrumental in ending the Lakers' three-game losing streak and extending Portland's losing skid to four.
