Luka Dončić Scores 53 as Lakers Beat Trail Blazers 124-118 and Move Into First in the West

Luka Dončić scored 53 points as the Los Angeles Lakers came back to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 124-118 on Friday night, Nov. 6, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. The win avenged an earlier loss to Portland, gave the Lakers their first NBA Cup victory and moved them into first place in the Western Conference at 8-2, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Portland, which led by as many as 16 in the first half, fell to 6-2 and suffered its first road loss of the season, according to Blazer’s Edge.

Final score and quarter-by-quarter

Quarter scores per ESPN.

Luka Dončić stats vs. the Trail Blazers

ESPN’s box score credits Dončić with 53 points on 17-of-33 shooting, 5-of-15 from three and 14-of-18 at the free-throw line, plus five rebounds and five assists in 38 minutes. (Blazer’s Edge’s early recap listed 51 points; the official box and the Times both have 53.)

• 20 points in the third quarter, when the Lakers erased Portland’s lead, per the Times.
• A 62-foot banked three-pointer at the second-quarter buzzer that cut Portland’s lead to 60-53 at halftime.
• The clinching floater with 27.7 seconds left that restored a six-point lead.

It was Dončić’s second 50-point game of the season, after 52 against Utah on Oct. 25, and his fourth as a Laker. The Times said that passes LeBron James and ties George Mikan for fourth in franchise regular-season history. Dončić is averaging 40.1 points a game and shooting a career-best 43.1% from three.

Austin Reaves added 25 points and four steals, and Walker Kessler had 16 points and 12 rebounds, per ESPN.

How the game turned

The Lakers opened 0-for-12 from three in the first quarter, and Dončić drew a technical foul for throwing the ball at an official after he was fouled late in the period, the Times reported. Portland shot 50% from deep early and built its lead even with center Donovan Clingan in foul trouble.

After the halftime buzzer-beater, the Lakers tied the game at 68 with 4:46 left in the third and then pulled ahead as Portland’s turnovers piled up. The Blazers committed 24 turnovers, eight by Deni Avdija and five by Scoot Henderson, according to ESPN’s box. Blazer’s Edge also noted an overturned offensive foul that became a flopping technical on Sidy Cissoko.

Portland made two fourth-quarter pushes, including a 10-0 run, and got within four in the final minute, but the Lakers held on at the free-throw line.

For the Blazers, Damian Lillard and Avdija scored 22 points each, Avdija added 11 assists, and Clingan posted 17 points and 11 rebounds, per ESPN.

Where do the Lakers stand in the NBA Cup?

The Lakers had lost their first Cup group game to the Golden State Warriors last week, so Friday’s win evens them in Cup play, the Times said. It was Portland’s first Cup game of the season, per Blazer’s Edge. Group standings will keep shifting as teams play their remaining group games in November.

What JJ Redick said

Before the game, Lakers coach JJ Redick explained Dončić’s three-point form: “He’s in the gym every day shooting… He’s just shot-ready at all times.”

Redick also said Bronny James and Cameron Carr were assigned to the G League’s Coachella Valley Lakers because “you guys need reps,” and that both will travel with the team next week.

What’s next

The Lakers head out on a trip to Detroit, Atlanta, Milwaukee and Phoenix next week. Portland plays the second night of a back-to-back at home against San Antonio on Saturday at 7 p.m. PT, then hosts Oklahoma City on Tuesday.

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