The Los Angeles Lakers have been dealt a major blow as their star player, LeBron James, has been sidelined with an injury. Despite the setback, the Lakers were able to pull out a 116-110 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.
Anthony Davis and Rui Hachimura stepped up in a big way for the Lakers in James’ absence. Davis had a game-high 27 points and 12 rebounds while Hachimura added 21 points and 8 rebounds. The two combined for 48 points and 20 rebounds, more than making up for the absence of James.
The Lakers were able to take control of the game early on and never looked back. They led by as many as 16 points in the first half and held off a late surge by the Trail Blazers in the fourth quarter. The Lakers’ defense was key in the victory, holding Portland to just 41 percent shooting from the field.
The win was a big one for the Lakers, who are now 3-1 on the season without James. It’s unclear how long James will be out with the injury, but it’s clear that the team is in good hands with Davis and Hachimura leading the way.
The Lakers will now look to keep their winning streak alive as they face off against the Denver Nuggets on Friday night. With James still out, Davis and Hachimura will need to continue their stellar play if the Lakers are to remain undefeated without their star player.