Spectators flocking to the Moda Center expecting a blockbuster will be sorely disappointed. The Portland Trail Blazers are hosting a very shortstaffed Los Angeles Lakers.

Playing without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, the Lakers won at Portland on Monday night behind a combined 57 points from starters Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura and an unexpected 25-point performance from reserve guard Nick Smith Jr.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Kawhi Leonard made a buzzer-beater and finished with 34 points to give the Los Angeles Clippers a 126-124 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night in the first game of the NBA Cup group stage for both teams.

The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to make an offer next summer to lock up Austin Reaves long-term as a running mate for Luka Doncic.

It’s that time of the season again where Fridays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays will be about the NBA Cup, which will take place from Oct. 31 to Dec. 16. Starting with group play, the Lakers will play one game against each opponent in their group with two games at home and two on the road.

Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers are 4-2 in the 2025-26 season and coming off an impressive win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night. Doncic returne

On Sunday night, the Miami Heat take on the Los Angeles Lakers in an exciting NBA matchup to close out the weekend of sports.