GAME NOTES SEASON & SERIES NOTES; CONNECTIONS
The Lakers won last season’s series with Portland 2-1 after having also won the 2010-11 series with the Trail Blazers 3-1. The 2010-11 series marked the Lakers first season series victory against the Trail Blazers since 2004-05 and just their third since 1989 (2004-05: 2-1 and 1992-93: 3-2). This will be the 203rd meeting between the Trail Blazers and Lakers with Los Angeles leading the all-time series 114-88. The Lakers are 6-4 against the Trail Blazers in their last 10 overall games. At STAPLES
Center, the Lakers are 19-5 against the Trail Blazers all-time and have won 9-of-theirlast-10 in Los Angeles. Despite snapping a 9-game losing streak at the Rose Garden in February of 2010 (2/6/10 at Portland, first win there since 2/23/05), the Lakers are still just 4-17 in their last 21 regular season games in Rip City including a 2-8 mark in their last 10. In their second meeting of last season (2/20/12), the Lakers held the Trail Blazers to just seven first quarter points, Portland’s lowest first quarter point total in their then 3,363-game history in the NBA. The total also matched the second
lowest first quarter point total allowed by the Lakers since moving to Los Angeles prior to the 1960-61 season. In recent series history, the Lakers held the Trail Blazers to their lowest scoring total in series history with a 96-76 opening night victory in 2008 (10/28/08). In 2006-07, Kobe Bryant scored 65 points March 16 at STAPLES Center, surpassing his own series record of 50 points established at home back on April 14, 2006 (the same day Bryant surpassed Elgin Baylor’s single-season franchise scoring record of 2,719 points). In 55 career games against Portland including 49 starts, Kobe Bryant is averaging 27.2 points against the Blazers. LAST REGULAR SEASON MEETING
Ramon Sessions posted 20 points, 11 assists and six rebounds in his first start as a Laker, as Los Angeles outscored Portland 30-19 in the first quarter, and although
Portland was able to tie the game up in the second quarter and then again in the third period, they were unable to ever take a lead, as the Lakers recorded their third wireto-wire victory of the season in a 103-96 victory over Portland at STAPLES Center. Andrew Bynum led the Lakers with 28 points and nine rebounds, while Kobe Bryant (18 points), Metta World Peace (14 points) and Pau Gasol (10 points, game-high 16 rebounds, 6 assists) rounded out the five Lakers in double-figures. The Lakers finished with a season-high 33 assists and had all five starters finish in double-figures for the first time on the season. Sessions became the first Lakers point guard to post a 20-point/10-assist game since Chucky Atkins did so back in January of 2005. The Lakers outrebounded Portland 53-29 on the night and outscored the Blazers 46-32 in the paint and 18-8 on second chances. LaMarcus Aldridge led all scorers with 20 points, while Wesley Matthews (16 points), J.J. Hickson (14 points) and Jamal Crawford (10 points) rounded out the Blazers players in double-figures. View the Full Game Notes Here *Statistical research assistance provided by the Elias Sports Bureau | |
/esi:vars)
