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The short-handed Los Angeles Lakers, playing without their three biggest stars, secured their fourth straight victory with a stunning 123-115 win over the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on Monday night. Deandre Ayton led the charge against his former team with a powerful 29-point, 10-rebound performance, while Rui Hachimura added 28 points for a Lakers squad that refused to make excuses. The Lakers were down to nine available players, missing Luka Doncic (leg contusion), Austin Reaves (groin soreness), and LeBron James (nerve injury), but you wouldn't have known it from their relentless effort. According to ESPN's box score, the Lakers shot a blistering 58.8% from the field as a team, dominating with 64 points in the paint. The game turned in the third quarter when the Lakers erased Portland's early lead. Hachimura's layup tied the game at 66-66 before Marcus Smart gave Los Angeles a lead they would never relinquish. The Lakers entered the fourth quarter up 90-86 and repeatedly fended off Portland's challenges down the stretch. Player Team Points Rebounds Assists Key Stat Deandre Ayton Lakers 29 10 2 14-19 FG (73.7%) Rui Hachimura Lakers 28 4 1 66.7% shooting Nick Smith Jr. Lakers 25 1 6 5-6 3PT (83.3%) Deni Avdija Trail Blazers 33 6 2 10-11 FT (90.9%) Jerami Grant Trail Blazers 23 7 2 3 steals The Blazers struggled immensely from beyond the arc, making just 9 of 40 three-point attempts (22.5%), a key factor in their downfall according to ESPN's statistics. Portland's defensive identity was noticeably absent without key bench defenders Matisse Thybulle (thumb) and Blake Wesley (foot), both listed on the injury report before the game. The Lakers received an unexpected hero performance from Nick Smith Jr., who scored 25 points off the bench on a two-way contract. Smith's performance was even more remarkable considering he battled illness during the game, briefly getting sick in the tunnel after scoring eight straight points. "Keep going," Hachimura told Smith during a timeout, encouragement that paid dividends as the young guard finished with 17 second-half points. In the Blazers' locker room, players took responsibility for the surprising loss. "I know I played a terrible game," veteran guard Jrue Holiday said, despite finishing with 8 points and 6 assists. Center Donovan Clingan added, "I just feel I wasn't ready to go," pointing to his defensive struggles against his former mentor Ayton. Social media reaction was swift, with #Lakers and #NickSmithJr trending on X following the game. Fans expressed amazement at the team's "next man up" mentality, with one popular tweet noting: "No LeBron, no Luka, no Reaves... no problem?" The Lakers (6-2) continue their season with a home game against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday at Crypto.com Arena. The team is hoping to get additional information on Reaves' groin soreness on Tuesday, though Doncic continues to manage his leg contusion that has already caused him to miss four games this season. The Trail Blazers (4-3) will look to regroup after having their three-game winning streak snapped. They face the Golden State Warriors in their next matchup as they continue to adjust to playing without Thybulle and Wesley for the foreseeable future. The Lakers have now proven they can win shorthanded, improving to 3-1 in games without Doncic this season. As Coach JJ Redick told reporters after the game, "I told the guys before the game we have enough in this locker room to win this game. My belief level in this group... is as high as it's been." Follow Sportda for the latest updates on the NBA and your favorite teams. Read More:Dan Quinn Takes Full Blame for Jayden Daniels’ Devastating Elbow InjuryCardinals Stun Cowboys in Dominant Monday Night Football UpsetAlabama Football Suspends Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. Indefinitely Following Arrest

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