Deandre Ayton had 29 points (24 in the paint) and 10 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 123-115 for their fourth straight win.
Marcus Smart’s driving layup put the Lakers ahead for good with 6:43 left in the third quarter.
The Trail Blazers got within 97-96 on Jrue Holiday’s driving layup with 8:41 to play, but Nick Smith Jr. answered with a floater, and the Trail Blazers got no closer.
In the fourth quarter, Smart had 2 of his 4 steals, 1 of them during a 10-0 Lakers run, and the Lakers scored 5 points off them.
Rui Hachimura scored 28 points (12 in the second quarter) on 10 for 15 shooting, and Smith added 25 points and 6 assists on 10 for 15 shooting off the bench. The Lakers had 3 20-point scorers.
For the Trail Blazers, Deni Avdija scored 33 points. Shaedon Sharpe had 23 points and 3 steals but went 1 for 7 from 3.
The Lakers shot 58.8% from the field and 39.1% from 3 to the Trail Blazers’ 49.4% and 22.5%. The Trail Blazers outscored the Lakers 20-8 on the fast break.