Guard Damian Lillard scored 30 points on 10 of 17 shooting to lead the Portland Trail Blazers in edging the Los Angeles Lakers, 109-106, in overtime in an exhibition game Tuesday night at Staples Center.
Lillard was hot from the get-go, scoring 13 in the first quarter. He hit 6 of 9 three-pointers before sitting out the fourth.
Mason Plumlee had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds in 21 minutes. CJ McCollum shot just 2-for-13 and only connected a total of 13-for-46 or 28.2 percent in three preseason games.
Moe Harkless chipped in 14 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. Playing for the first time in close to seven months, Meyers Leonard scored 11 points and added six rebounds before fouling out in overtime, Oregon Live reported.
Just a couple of weeks before opening night, there are still some unanswered questions for Blazers coach Terry Stotts. It's not yet certain who will start at small forward for the Blazers, having used three starting small forwards in three preseason games-Moe Harkless, Allen Crabbe and Evan Turner.
Julius Randle led the Lakers with 13 points, 13 boards and three assists. Jordan Clarkson topscored with 15 and Nick Young added 14 points, including four three-pointers, while dishing out two assists, a blocked shot and a steal.
D'Angelo Russell shot only 28.6% from the field and missed all nine 3-point attempts. He had the chance to win the game for the Lakers with two good looks as regulation expired. However, Lakers coach Luke Walton wants Russell to keep shooting as long as they are good attempts, feeling that he will eventually connect with those shots, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Luol Deng's minutes were limited to 13 as he returns from a knee injury, scoring seven while grabbing three boards. The Lakers' starting lineup was composed of Randle, Russell Deng, Timofey Mozgov and Lou Williams.
