Blazers hit 23 3-pointers, beat LeBron-less Lakers 127-115

With 40 points (including eight threes), Damian Lillard helped lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 127-115 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night.

For the third game in a row, the Lakers’ leading scorer and all-time NBA leader in assists, LeBron James, sat out with a painful left ankle. Even after he broke Kareem Abdul-scoring Jabbar’s record against Oklahoma City last Tuesday, he hasn’t played since.

The Blazers built a 27-point lead and shot an NBA-record 17 threes in the first half on their way to a 23-point performance.

With seven minutes remaining, Lillard finally sat down for the final time, and the fans gave him a standing ovation.

I think the most important thing is simply being aggressive,” Lillard said. I’m not going out there with the intention of scoring points; rather, I’m planning to exert pressure. My plan is to take aim at coverages, seize available openings, and even try to manufacture some.

The Lakers have dropped four in a row despite a 19-point performance by Anthony Davis and a 20-rebound effort.

Lillard has 11 games this season with 40 or more points, and Lakers coach Darvin Ham admitted his squad has no response for him.

There’s really much you can do, other than maybe steal his footwear,” Ham remarked.