If you woke up this morning and immediately checked your phone to see what was the score to the lakers game, I've got some news. It isn't the kind of news that makes you want to go out and buy a celebratory jersey. Honestly, it was a rough night in the Pacific Northwest.
The Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday, January 17, 2026. The final tally at the Moda Center was 107-90 in favor of the Blazers.
It wasn't just a loss; it was a bit of a reality check. If you watched the game, you saw a team that looked every bit like they were playing their fifth game in seven days. They were slow. They were tired. And, frankly, they were missing their engine.
The Scoreboard Doesn't Tell the Whole Story
Looking at a 17-point deficit, you’d think the Lakers just didn't show up. But the context here is everything. The Lakers entered this matchup with a 24-15 record, still sitting comfortably in the Western Conference playoff hunt. However, Portland (now 20-22) caught them at the absolute perfect time.
The real headline? Luka Dončić was a late scratch. Luka has been the focal point of everything the Lakers do this season. When the team announced he’d be out with left groin soreness, the vibe shifted immediately. Coach JJ Redick mentioned before tip-off that it was likely an "accumulation of a longer week," which is code for "the man is exhausted and we can't risk a season-ending injury."
✨ Don't miss: Liechtenstein National Football Team: Why Their Struggles are Different Than You Think
Without Luka, the offense looked stagnant. It’s hard to replicate that kind of gravity. You’ve got defenders who usually have to double-team Luka suddenly able to stick to Rui Hachimura or Austin Reaves like glue.
Key Performance Stats
- Final Score: Lakers 90, Trail Blazers 107
- LeBron James: 29 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists
- Portland's Surge: Deni Avdija (who has been playing like an All-Star lately) helped lead a balanced attack that the Lakers' tired legs just couldn't track.
Why the Lakers Struggled in Portland
It's easy to blame the loss on the injuries. Deandre Ayton was out. Austin Reaves was missing. But the issues went deeper than just who was in uniform.
The Lakers have struggled all season against young, athletic teams that push the pace. Portland is exactly that. They have these quick guards who just lived in the paint all night. While LeBron James put up a respectable 29-9-6 stat line, he couldn't do it alone. At 41 years old, asking him to carry the entire load on the tail end of a brutal road stretch is a lot. Even for him.
The defensive rotations were "sorta" there in the first half, but by the third quarter, the wheels fell off. Portland went on a run, and the Lakers just didn't have the energy to punch back.
🔗 Read more: Cómo entender la tabla de Copa Oro y por qué los puntos no siempre cuentan la historia completa
Is It Time to Panic?
Kinda, but not really. The Lakers have lost four of their last five games. That’s a slump by any definition. They just came off an 18-point loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday where LaMelo Ball absolutely torched them.
But here’s the thing: the NBA season is a marathon of ebbs and flows. Every team hits a wall in January. The "dog days" are real. If you’re a Lakers fan, you’re looking at the return of Luka and Ayton as the light at the end of the tunnel.
What’s Next for the Lakers?
The schedule doesn't get much easier. They’re heading home to face the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, January 18. Yes, that’s a back-to-back.
If you're wondering if Luka will play against Toronto, it’s currently a toss-up. Groin injuries are tricky. If he sits again, expect more heavy lifting from LeBron and perhaps a bigger role for Max Christie or Jarred Vanderbilt to try and inject some defensive energy.
💡 You might also like: Ohio State Football All White Uniforms: Why the Icy Look Always Sparks a Debate
Real Talk: The West is a Meat Grinder
The Western Conference in 2026 is absurd. You have the Oklahoma City Thunder (who just lost a heartbreaker to the Heat 122-120 on the same night) sitting at the top, but the middle of the pack is a total mess. Every loss to a sub-.500 team like Portland feels like a gut punch because the seeding is so tight.
Basically, the Lakers need to find their defensive identity again. They're allowing too many easy points in transition. Whether that's a fatigue issue or a scheme issue under Redick remains to be seen, but 107-90 is a score that shouldn't happen with the talent on this roster, even with the injuries.
Actions for Lakers Fans
- Monitor the Injury Report: Keep a close eye on the "Questionable" tags for Sunday's game against the Raptors. Luka's availability changes the betting lines and the strategy entirely.
- Look at the Standings: Don't just look at the score; look at the gap between the 4th and 8th seeds. It’s razor-thin.
- Check the Minutes: Watch how much LeBron plays on the front end of these back-to-backs. If he’s logging 38+ minutes in a loss, the next game is almost always going to be a struggle.
The score to the Lakers game was a disappointment, but the season isn't over. It’s just getting complicated.