LeBron James and Max Christie lead Lakers to win over Portland

On January 3, 2025By Littum

The big picture required the Lakers to be smart; that small picture required the Lakers to play a little harder Thursday night.

Anthony Davis, who missed most of the Lakers’ Christmas game, needed a night off because of lingering soreness in his sprained left ankle. Gabe Vincent needed more time to recover from an oblique strain.

Removing key pieces, especially one as critical as Davis, highlighted something JJ Redick’s former coach Doc Rivers used to say: winning every game in the NBA is difficult.

The Lakers would need a big night from someone they trust and a career night from someone they’re really getting into.

LeBron James and Max Christie combined for 66 points, with Christie finishing with a career-best 28, in the Lakers’ 114-106 win over the Trail Blazers.

James hit a season-high seven threes on just 10 attempts en route to 38 points as the Lakers (19-14) battled through a rocky fourth quarter. And Christie, who cemented his spot as the team’s shooting guard, hit five threes and aggressively broke off the ball with the Portland defense focused on James and Austin Reaves.

James and Christie fired the Lakers into a 15-point lead against one of the West’s worst teams, and the Lakers’ defense found its footing in the second and third quarters.

Lakers guard Austin Reaves, center, loses control of the ball

But the Trail Blazers’ younger, more athletic legs and their longer, stronger arms put the Lakers in tough spots.

Reaves, for the first time since the Lakers fully handed him the keys, was pressured to shoot just 5-for-15 from the field. He still managed to finish with 11 assists, eight rebounds and 15 points.

Anfernee Simons led Portland (11-22) with 23 points.

The Lakers play again Friday against Atlanta at Crypto.com Arena.