Los Angeles Lakers 124, Portland Trail Blazers 118: Doncic's 53 and a 34-15 third

Luka Doncic scored 53 points and the Los Angeles Lakers won the third quarter 34-15. That turned a seven-point halftime deficit into a 12-point lead, and it was enough to hold off a 43-point Portland fourth quarter. The Lakers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 124-118 on Friday at Crypto.com Arena, a measure of revenge for the 136-129 home loss to the same opponent earlier in the season.

The Lakers are 8-2 and have won four straight. Portland falls to 6-2.

How it was won

Portland controlled the first half. The Blazers won the first quarter 29-20 and led 60-53 at the break, and at one point their lead reached 16.

The third quarter changed the game. Los Angeles outscored Portland 34-15 and went into the fourth up 87-75. The Lakers' largest lead also reached 16. Portland answered with 43 points in the fourth, but the Lakers scored 37 of their own and closed it out.

The box score explains how the Lakers won despite worse shooting:

• Turnovers: Portland gave the ball away 24 times; the Lakers turned it over 11 times.
• Shot volume: The Lakers took 93 field goal attempts to Portland's 70. They made 42 at 45 percent, against Portland's 36 at 51 percent.
• Paint: Los Angeles outscored Portland 52-32 inside.
• Glass: The Lakers won the rebounding battle 40-37.
• Free throws: Both teams went to the line 37 times. The Lakers made 29 and Portland made 27.

Portland's threes kept the game close. The Blazers made 19 of 43, good for 57 points from deep. The Lakers made 11 of 37.

Doncic carried the offense with 53 points, five rebounds and five assists, shooting 5-of-15 from three. Austin Reaves added 25 points, though he went 1-of-8 from deep. Walker Kessler had 16 points and 12 rebounds and was a large part of the interior edge.

For Portland, Deni Avdija nearly had a triple-double with 22 points, nine rebounds and 11 assists. Damian Lillard scored 22 with four threes, and Toumani Camara added 18 on 4-of-8 from three. Portland had 29 assists to the Lakers' 17, but its 24 turnovers cost it the extra possessions.

Against the number

The Lakers closed as 3.5-point favorites and won by six, so they covered. The moneyline closed at Lakers -154 and Portland +130, and the favorite paid.

The total closed at 231.5. The teams combined for 242, so the over came in by 10.5. That result was not settled until late. The game stood at 162 points after three quarters, and Portland's 43-point fourth pushed it over. The same Portland run brought the margin within reach of the spread, but the Lakers held a cushion past the 3.5.

Full pricing history is on the game page.

What's next

The Lakers head east to face the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, November 8. The game airs on NBA TV, Spectrum Sports Net and Spectrum Sports Net +. It is the second game in three days after a stretch in which the Lakers have scored at least 116 in each of their last four wins.

Portland's next game was not listed in the schedule material available at publication. At 6-2, the Blazers have now split the two meetings with Los Angeles this season.