Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers: Live Score, Highlights, Reaction

The final score in this one was in doubt for much of the way. That was until Damian Lillard did what Damian Lillard tends to do in fourth quarters of close games. 

The Portland Trail Blazers' largest lead over the Los Angeles Lakers Sunday was just eight points entering the fourth quarter, and Los Angeles was within a single possession at several stages of the final period. Once the Blazers' point guard started heating up, though, the Lakers' hopes vanished well before the clock read zeros. 

Lillard scored 12 points in the fourth quarter, including Portland's final nine of the game, including a ferocious slam over two Lakers to extend the lead to double-digits in the closing minutes. He followed it up with a ridiculous three-point heave that was likely meant to kill time off the clock, but it wound up falling, too. By the final horn, he racked up 34 points on 13-of-23 shooting to go along with seven assists and three rebounds. 

LaMarcus Aldridge rebounded from a quiet first half to finish with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Nicolas Batum was on triple-double watch, posting 11 points, nine rebounds and six assists. 

With Kobe Bryant out for LA, four scorers finished in double-digits and six Lakers took at least seven attempts. Wesley Johnson led the way with 17, while Ronnie Price posted 12 assists and Jordan Hill went for 14 and five boards. Waiver pick-up Tarik Black, in his third game with Los Angeles, put up six points, six rebounds and a block over his 20 minutes, bringing a ton of energy to the lineup with hustle plays on both ends. 

The loss pushes LA to 12-26, a lengthy nine games out of the playoff hunt in the West. Portland is still comfortably in second place in the conference as they remain at home to take on the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday night at Moda Center.