LeBron James and Max Christie lead the Lakers past Portland with Anthony Davis out

On By Littum

Lakers center Christian Koloko dunks past Portland Trail Blazers forwards Toumani Camara and Deni Avdija.

Lakers center Christian Koloko dunks past Portland Trail Blazers forwards Toumani Camara (33) and Deni Avdija (8) during the first half of the Lakers’ 114-106 victory Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

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

Anthony Daviswho missed most of it Lakers match at Christmasneeded the night off due to persistent soreness in his sprained left ankle. Gabe Vincent needed more time to recover from an oblique strain.

Removing important pieces, especially one as critical as Davis, highlighted something JJ Redick‘s one-time 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.

Read more: Hernández: The Lakers are going all-in on Austin Reaves and want to learn if he can be an all-star

LeBron James and Max Christie combined to score 66 points, Christie finished 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 ballLakers guard Austin Reaves, center, loses control of the ball

Lakers guard Austin Reaves, center, loses control of the ball in front of Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) and forward Kris Murray (24) Thursday. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

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.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.