The bigger picture demanded that the Lakers be smart; the small image demanded the Lakers Play a little harder Thursday night.
Anthony Davisthat most of the time was lost The Lakers game on ChristmasHe needed the night off due to persistent pain in his sprained left ankle. Gabe Vincent needed more time to recover from an oblique strain.
Removing key pieces, especially one as critical as Davis, highlighted something JJ RedickFormer coach Doc Rivers used to say: winning any game in the NBA is difficult.
The Lakers were going to need a big night from someone they could rely on and a career night from someone they were really getting started on.
Read more: Hernández: The Lakers bet on Austin Reaves and will learn if he can become a star
LeBron James and Christian Max combined to score 66 points, Christie finished with a career-high 28 in the Lakers game. 114-106 victory about the Trail Blazers.
James made a season-high seven 3-pointers, needing just 10 attempts, on his way to 38 points as the Lakers (19-14) battled through a difficult fourth quarter. And Christie, solidifying his spot as the team’s shooting guard, hit five 3-pointers and aggressively cut the ball with Portland’s defense focused on James and Austin Reaves.
James and Christie gave the Lakers a 15-point lead against one of the West’s worst teams, and the Lakers’ defense found its footing in the second and third quarters.
But the Trail Blazers’ younger, more athletic legs and longer, stronger arms put the Lakers in tough situations.
Reaves, for the first time since the Lakers gave him the keys completely, was pressured to shoot just five of 15 from the field. He still managed to finish with 11 assists, eight rebounds and 15 points.
Anfernee Simons led Portland (11-22) with 23 points.
The Lakers play again on Friday against Atlanta at the Crypto.com Arena.
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This story originally appeared on Los Angeles Times.