What happened: Luka Doncic connected on a three-quarter court shot late in the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers. The basket pulled the Los Angeles Lakers within seven points, with Portland leading 60-53.

Why it matters: Los Angeles entered the matchup with a 7-2 record in 2026-27, holding the second seed in the Western Conference. The Lakers continue to rely on Doncic, who scored 45 points on Nov. 2, to drive the offense through persistent perimeter shooting struggles.

What to watch: The Lakers look to overcome their first-half deficit as second-half action gets underway.