Luka Dončić scores 53 as Lakers rally past Trail Blazers; Cavaliers dominate 76ers in NBA Cup

Luka Dončić recorded a season-high 53 points as the Los Angeles Lakers erased a 16-point deficit to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 124-118 in NBA Cup play on Friday. Dončić’s long-range shot from roughly 61 feet at the end of the first half signaled the turnaround, and the performance marked his sixth 40-point game of the season, the most in the league. He also became the first Laker since Kobe Bryant in 2012 to score 40 points in four consecutive games and added a second 50-point effort for the season.

In the same round, the Cleveland Cavaliers opened their NBA Cup campaign with a 119-95 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Cleveland built a 19-4 run early and finished with a 12-0 spurt to close the third quarter and start the fourth. The win ended the Sixers’ five-game streak; Philadelphia, now 8-2 overall, recorded its second loss of the Cup after missing Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe. Embiid managed six points on 0-of-9 shooting, while LeBron James contributed eight points on 3-of-12 shooting before exiting. Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley led with 22 points, and Donovan Mitchell added 23 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.

The results moved the Cavaliers to the top of East Group B with a +24 point differential, while the Lakers improved their standing in the West. Standings for all groups were also updated following the games.