The Los Angeles Lakers (27-5) outscored the Portland Trail Blazers (20-14) 30-16 in the third quarter en route to a 100-86 victory on Sunday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
The Trail Blazers, playing without Brandon Roy for the third straight game, lost in Los Angeles for the second time in the 2008-09 season.
Portland played a strong opening quarter, taking the lead 18-9 with 5:35 remaining in the first period on a 16-foot shot from LaMarcus Aldridge. The Trail Blazers held the Lakers to 19 points in the quarter, leading 25-19 after one.
Los Angeles responded in the second quarter, outscoring Portland 32-25. The Lakers took their first lead of the night with two made free throws from small forward Trevor Ariza with 51 seconds to play in the half. Los Angeles took a 51-50 lead into the halftime locker room, and would lead the rest of the way.
The Lakers began to open up their lead with 6:43 remaining in the third quarter. Rudy Fernandez hit a free throw awarded after a defensive three-second violation, and following that make the Trail Blazers would go over four minutes without a basket.
The Lakers extended their lead to 81-66 at the end of the third period, outscoring the Trail Blazers 62-41 over the second and third quarters.
Portland struggled all night to find an offensive rhythm, shooting 39 percent from the floor and 32 percent from behind the three-point line. Portland also struggled from the free throw line, shooting 13-of-22 from the stripe.
Aldridge led the Trail Blazers with his seventh double-double, netting 22 points and 11 rebounds. Nicolas Batum achieved a new career-high in scoring with 17 points in extended minutes due to foul trouble for Travis Outlaw. Fernandez, starting in place of the injured Roy, scored 14 points, Steve Blake added 13 points, and Greg Oden rounded out the top scorers list with 10 points.
The Trail Blazers fell to eighth in the Western Conference and second in the Northwest Division with the loss.
Portland returns home to face the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday January 7th at the Rose Garden.
