LOS ANGELES >> Early in the first quarter, the Staples Center scoreboard flipped the teams’ scores and gave the Lakers a five-point edge over Portland. A valiant attempt, indeed, but not one that will fly at NBA headquarters.
Before long, the numerals returned to their rightful places and so did the Lakers, who missed shots throughout the game and played increasingly poor defense. Portland also struggled early but still had enough for a 97-81 victory over the Lakers on Sunday night.
The Lakers played without rookie starting forward Brandon Ingram (knee tendinitis), never led, trailed by double digits early in the second quarter and as many as 21 points in a disastrous third quarter.