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The Los Angeles Lakers came away with a huge victory on Saturday, as they defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 116-108 in Game 3 of this first-round series matchup. After losing Game 1 to Portland, it was tantamount for LA to win Game 2 so as to avoid risking a potentially catastrophic first-round exit, which they've now followed up with a crucial Game 3 win to recapture the advantage in the series.
Game 3 served as a significant momentum-swinging game, and there are a number of key takeaways from what turned out to be quite a contest. Below are four important points we picked up from LA's Saturday night win.
Power Duo
We were finally gifted with a noteworthy performance from both LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the same game. This pair has alternated with good/bad games for the first two contests in the series, but they both came to play on Saturday.
James finished with a game-high 38 points on 11-of-18 shooting, with 12 rebounds, eight dimes, and two steals. On the other hand, Davis logged 29 points on 11-of-18 from the field, 11 boards, eight assists, two steals, and three blocks.
It was only a matter of time before both guys had good games at the same time, and this was an utter exhibition of the LeBron-AD dominance in full swing. It's going to be tough to beat the Lakers when these two superstars are at their best.
Prime LeBron
James' 38-point outburst was not only his best offensive outing in the series, but it was also the most points he's scored since the restart. It was also his third-best scoring mark throughout the entire season.
After an awful showing in Game 2, some doubt began creeping in as to whether or not LeBron could still dominate the way we've all gotten used to throughout his career. James responded with an amazing bounce-back performance that quashed any and all doubt. He was in cruise control all game long, but there was an encompassing feeling that he was dominant throughout.
If there was any doubt as to whether or not playoffs LeBron had arrived, then his Game 3 performance should serve as a clear answer. This is exactly who the Lakers need him to be in order for them to fulfill their ultimate goal of winning the championship this term.
Fatigue Factor
The physical and mental fatigue brought about by what was a furious run by the Blazers to secure their spot in the postseason now appears to be finally taking its toll on the entire team. This side had to expend a lot of energy playing catch-up throughout the seeding games, which was followed by a do-or-die play-in game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
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They had momentum on their side in Game 1, and this played a huge factor in their win, but now that the dust has settled, the Blazers are looking like a tired group.
In Game 3, Damian Lillard (playing through a dislocated finger and a left hand injury) and C.J. McCollum (playing through a fractured back) — Portland's two best players — struggled down the stretch for the Blazers. They missed all five of their attempts from deep, and there's no denying that both of them — if not the entire team — looked worse for wear.
Portland won't go down without a fight, but if this trend continues, then the Lakers will make easy work of their first-round opponents.
Defense Wins Championships
LA's firepower on offense was on full display on Saturday, as they scored 116 points against Portland. Be that as it may, there's no denying that the Lakers' strength this season lies in their defense — or at least it is their defensive proficiency that will ultimately deliver them to glory.
The Lakers have taken their defense up a notch since the start of the playoffs, and they have now held the Blazers to an average of 98.7 points in this series. This is after this high-octane Portland side averaged 115.0 points throughout the 2019-20 campaign, and a whopping 126.0 points during the seeding games. LA knew that their defense would be key in this series, and they have found success in this particular category thus far.
Game 3 was no exception. While they allowed the Blazers to score a series-high 108 points, their defense still stepped it up when it mattered most. This has been the trend for LA throughout the first three games (even in Game 1, except that Portland just made their shots down the stretch), and there are no signs of the wind blowing in the opposite direction anytime soon.
As the old cliche goes: defense wins championships. The Lakers have shown their mettle in their first few playoff games this season, and if they are able to keep this up, then not only will they come away as the victors of this series, but this will also put them in a position to go all the way this season.
