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Los Angeles Lakers lose close game to Portland Trail Blazers

Kenneth Teape|
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 23: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 and Larry Nance Jr. #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers defend against Evan Turner #1 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half of a game at Staples Center on December 23, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 23: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 and Larry Nance Jr. #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers defend against Evan Turner #1 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half of a game at Staples Center on December 23, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Lakers lost another close game, this time to the Portland Trail Blazers. Check out our recap and highlights of the game!

The Los Angeles Lakers tough stretch continued Saturday night with another heartbreaking loss. This time, it was at the hands of the Portland Trail Blazers. The Lakers lost yet another close call, falling to Portland 95-92.

This is the second time this season that the Lakers and Trail Blazers faced off and the second time that the Blazers came away with a three-point victory. In the first meeting, Damian Lillard nailed a 3-pointer with one second remaining to win 113-110. Lillard wasn’t playing this time around, but the Trail Blazers still pulled out the close victory.

With Lillard, Brandon Ingram and Brook Lopez sidelined, there was a lot of offensive firepower missing, and it showed. It was a struggle throughout the evening for both teams, but some players stepped up big time.

For the Blazers it was Lillard’s replacement, Shabazz Napier and Moe Harkless. Napier scored 21 points, going 8-of-18 from the field and 4-of-7 from deep. He added three rebounds, five assists and three steals.

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Harkless led the Trail Blazers with 22 points off the bench. He hurt the Lakers both inside and out, as he made 9-of-16 from the field and 2-of-3 from beyond the 3-point line. His stat line was rounded out with six rebounds, one assist and two blocks.

In addition to Napier and Harkless, the Blazers also had C.J. McCollum and Zach Collins score in double-figures with 17 and 11 respectively.

For the Lakers, it was once again Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Clarkson leading the way. Each scored 18, picking up the slack with Ingram sidelined. In total the Lakers had six players in double-figures, as Julius Randle had 16, followed by 11 from Josh Hart and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and 10 from Lonzo Ball.

The Lakers had a chance to take the lead and tie the game in the waning second, but Caldwell-Pope missed two 3-point attempts. Caldwell-Pope has been ice cold from the perimeter recently, as he is 4-for-23 in his last three games played.

Highlights

Next: Lakers: 3 Reasons To Trade Julius Randle

The Lakers will be back on the court Monday night as the nightcap to the NBA’s Christmas Day extravaganza. The Lakers will be hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves at the STAPLES Center.

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