Lakers’ five takeaways from loss to the Portland Trail Blazers
Wesley Johnson passes the ball as Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum defends during the second half of the Lakers’ 102-86 loss to Portland.
The Lakers lost to the Trail Blazers, 102-86, in Portland on Wednesday at Moda Center. Here are five takeaways from their 40th loss of the season:
1. It was another bad night for Nick Young in many ways. He was injured and his shot continued to betray him.
Young suffered a strained tendon in his left foot in the third quarter and didn’t return. He finished the game with nine points on four-for-12 shooting.
Young said he’ll take the next eight days off for the All-Star break and be ready to play again.
Young was told that by the time the Lakers play their next game Feb. 20, the Feb. 19 trading deadline will have passed.
It’s possible that the Lakers could be a different team then.
Young was asked if he felt good about being on the Lakers after the trading deadline.
“I feel all right,” Young said. “I’m ‘Swaggy P,’ man. I hope they still love me, man. I can make a couple of shots.”
2. Lakers rookie guard Jordan Clarkson continued his learning process on how to be a point guard in the NBA by playing against Portland All-Star point guard Damian Lillard.
Clarkson had 17 points, six rebounds and four assists in 27 minutes, 23 seconds.
Lillard had 15 points and eight assists, but he played just 28:06 because the game was a blowout.
3. The Lakers couldn’t keep up with the Trail Blazers in the third quarter.
The Lakers were outscored 34-19 in the third, blowing the game open.
They shot just 30.4% from the field in the third and turned the ball over four times. Portland shot 54.2% from the field in the third quarter.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 10 points in the third and Wesley Matthews had 10 in the third.
4. Wayne Ellington continued to be impressive, and not only with his offense.
He had 16 points on six-for-14 shooting and a career-high eight rebounds.
5. There was an interesting stat line from starting power forward Tarik Black. He didn’t score, missing his only shot.
But Black had eight rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots.
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