In the NBA’s first-ever In-Season Tournament, the Los Angeles Lakers traveled to Portland on Friday night in an attempt to maintain their perfect record.

LeBron James and Anthony Davis both participated in the game even though it was the Lakers’ third in four nights following a defeat on Wednesday. As a result, the Lakers were able to handle the depleted Trail Blazers, winning 107-95 to move one game closer to taking first place in Group A of the Western Conference. With a victory over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night, Los Angeles will move on to the knockout stages.

The Lakers started the game strongly, which was unusual, as James and D’Angelo Russell each made two 3-pointers. After being fouled during a 3-point attempt, Taurean Prince made all of his shots, putting Los Angeles ahead 16–6.

From there, LeBron switched to attack mode and made a few easy baskets inside, including a steal and a powerful dunk in transition after Russell fed him the ball.

After that, though, the Lakers played a little careless with the ball and gave up an 8-0 run. Austin Reaves then finished it with a layup to give L.A. a 30-23 lead at the half.

Jerami Grant, known for his stellar performances against the Lakers, made an early impact in the second quarter with four consecutive points. Christian Wood responded with six straight points, restoring the double-digit lead.

In the first half, Davis showcased his defensive prowess with numerous blocked shots, while also contributing offensively with easy buckets assisted by Russell and Prince. Sharpe added four quick points at the end of the half, narrowing the Lakers’ lead to 60-50.

The Lakers had a sloppy start in the third quarter, committing turnovers and struggling on the defensive glass. Grant hit two three-pointers, bringing the game within three points.

Davis connected with James for an alley-oop, and Russell nailed another 3-pointer, helping the Lakers regain a five-point lead. Despite the Lakers’ efforts, the Trail Blazers continued to attack the offensive glass, keeping the game close.

James extended his impressive performance with two significant three-pointers, and the Lakers finished the third quarter with an 82-75 lead.

The Lakers dominated the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run, led by LeBron, expanding their lead to 14. James then assisted Rui Hachimura for five consecutive points, and Cam Reddish’s steal and layup secured the victory for the Lakers.