LeBron, AD Combine for 79 Points in Game Five Win Against Lillard-Less Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers looked like they would extend this series to a Game Six as they managed to tie the score after being down as much as 14 points late in the third quarter. Their three-point shooting looked unstoppable even with the absence of Damian Lillard. The Blazers couldn't just get over the hump in this one as Portland was in fact, facing a team that has LeBron James and Anthony Davis. And that proved to be the difference not just in Game Five but all throughout the series as the Los Angeles Lakers moved on to the second round of the National Basketball Association (NBA) playoffs after taking a 131-122 Game Five victory over the Portland Trail Blazers- taking the series in five games when some initially thought that Portland would sweep the Lakers after winning Game One.

The big reason for another victory by the Lakers: the same reasons why they are the top-seeded team in the Western Conference: LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Davis led the way for the Purple and Gold with 43 points and nine rebounds while shooting 11 for 18 from the field. He also made 11 of his 13 attempts from the free-throw line. LeBron James recorded yet another playoff triple-double as James finished with 36 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, a steal, and a block in 34 minutes. LeBron shot efficiently from the field, going 14 for 19 from the field including four for seven from rainbow country. Kentavious Cardwell-Pope added 14 points (four for nine from the three-point line), five assists, and three steals while Dwight Howard had 11 points and six rebounds off the bench. Fan-favorite Alex Caruso played another all-around game with seven points, four steals,  three rebounds, two assists, and a block. 

CJ McCollum tried to will Portland back into the series as he exploded for 36 points but foul trouble also played a role in the fall of Portland as both Carmelo Anthony and Hassan Whiteside battled through even each had five fouls. Anthony finished with 27 points. Jusuf Nurkic and Gary Trent Jr. each had 16 points as Portland got outscored in the paint, 58-46. While Portland shot better from the three-point line, the Lakers shot 54% from the field and timely baskets from their dynamic duo of James and Davis enabled LA to put this one away for good late in the fourth quarter.

The Lakers won their first playoff series since 2012 and will face the winner of the Oklahoma City Thunder-Houston Rockets series in the next round while Portland will exit the Orlando bubble after an impressive run to clinch a playoff spot.

Photo is from Blazer's Edge