Luka Doncic scored 53 points as the Los Angeles Lakers recovered from a slow start to beat Portland 124-118 in the NBA Cup group stage, while LeBron James endured a difficult return to Cleveland with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Lakers trailed by as many as 16 points in the second quarter before Doncic’s scoring took control. He finished with five rebounds and five assists as Los Angeles secured a fourth consecutive victory.
Doncic’s remarkable first half ended with a shot from well beyond the halfway line, cutting Portland’s lead to seven points. The Trail Blazers moved back to within four in the final minute, but a Doncic floater helped the Lakers hold on.
It was the 11th 50-point game of Doncic’s career and his fourth since joining the Lakers, moving him past James and level with George Mikan for the fourth-highest total in the franchise’s history.
Doncic has now scored at least 40 points in six of his last seven games. He also became only the fourth Lakers player, after Elgin Baylor, Kobe Bryant and Mikan, to score 40 or more in four consecutive regular-season games.
“I’m having a lot of fun,” Doncic said. “Obviously playing basketball, it’s a lot of fun for me. It’s more [fun] when you play like this and when you win games.”
LeBron James struggles on Cleveland return
James was given a warm reception, alongside scattered boos, when he was introduced before Philadelphia’s 119-95 defeat by the Cavaliers. The 41-year-old, playing in his 24th NBA season, was cheered again when he left the court late in the fourth quarter.
But Cleveland controlled the game early and resisted every attempt by the Sixers to recover, ending Philadelphia’s five-match winning run. James finished with eight points after making three of 12 shots, adding seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and six turnovers.
Joel Embiid missed all nine of his attempts from the floor and scored six points from free throws, while Jaylen Brown led Philadelphia with 20 points. Donovan Mitchell scored 10 of his 23 points in the opening quarter and Evan Mobley added 22 as Cleveland won the rebounding battle 56-42 despite Jarrett Allen’s absence through injury.
“I did not feel in good rhythm offensively,” James said. “We didn’t look like much offensively. We had a couple of spurts. We were able to cut [the deficit] to three in the third quarter. But too many turnovers on my behalf.”
James left the Lakers for the 76ers in June, having been expected by many to choose a third spell with Cleveland. Friday’s contest was part of the NBA Cup group stage, with the quarter-finals scheduled for 4 and 5 December, the semi-finals on 8 and 9 December, and the final on 11 December.
