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Lakers forward LeBron James shoots as Blazers forward Carmelo Anthony defends during the first half of Friday’s game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Lakers forward Markieff Morris (88) shoots against Portland Trail Blazers forward Robert Covington (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (1) blocks a shot by Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Portland Trail Blazers guard Gary Trent Jr. (2) dunks the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) passes the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shoots against Portland Trail Blazers forward Derrick Jones Jr. (55) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Dennis Schroder (17) blocks a shot by Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Portland Trail Blazers guard Gary Trent Jr. (2) defends against Los Angeles Lakers guard Dennis Schroder, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Portland Trail Blazers forward Derrick Jones Jr. (55) blocks a shot by Los Angeles Lakers forward Markieff Morris (88) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, center, shoots against Portland Trail Blazers forward Robert Covington, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Wesley Matthews (9) defends against Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel watches from the sideline during the second half of an NBA basketball against the Portland Trail Blazers game Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, left, shoots against Los Angeles Lakers center Montrezl Harrell, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (1) keeps the ball inbounds during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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referee Lauren Holtkamp-Sterling, center, officiates during the first half of an NBA basketball game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Lakers Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Lakers center Montrezl Harrell (15) defends against Portland Trail Blazers forward Derrick Jones Jr., left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) knocks the ball out of the hands of Los Angeles Lakers guard Alex Caruso (4) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts yells from the sideline during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Talen Horton-Tucker (5) shoots during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, left, shoots against Los Angeles Lakers center Montrezl Harrell, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Lakers center Marc Gasol, front, shoots against Portland Trail Blazers forward Robert Covington (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Lakers center Montrezl Harrell (15) breaks up a shot by Portland Trail Blazers center Enes Kanter (11)during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Lakers center Montrezl Harrell (15) dunks the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. Portland Trail Blazers guard Rodney Hood (5) is at left. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Portland Trail Blazers forward Derrick Jones Jr. (55) dunks the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Lakers center Montrezl Harrell (15) breaks up a shot by Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) tries to shoot while defended by Los Angeles Lakers guard Alex Caruso (4) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, right, lays on the ground after his shot was broken up by Los Angeles Lakers center Montrezl Harrell, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Lakers center Montrezl Harrell (15) shoots against Portland Trail Blazers forward Carmelo Anthony (00) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Lakers center Montrezl Harrell (15) dunks the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Lakers center Montrezl Harrell (15) reacts after scoring during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) is at left. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Portland Trail Blazers forward Robert Covington (23) shoots against Los Angeles Lakers guard Talen Horton-Tucker (5) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) points at a team mate during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) watches from the sideline during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Alex Caruso (4) reacts after scoring during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) is at right. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Referee Lauren Holtkamp-Sterling, left, removes a ball from the court during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, complained that the ball had blood on it from an injured Los guard Alex Caruso (4). (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Lakers players celebrate before an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES — After a midweek blowout against the Utah Jazz – their fourth straight loss – the Lakers tried to look at the silver lining: Without struggle, there can be no success.
Winning looks a heck of a lot more fun.
The Lakers (23-11) found their way back to the win column on Friday night with a 102-93 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, thanks much in part to the return of starting point guard Dennis Schröder chipping in 22 points.
It was a different look altogether from LeBron James, who had 28 points with 10 rebounds and seven assists. After a week of seeming weary and dead-legged, he came alive as the Lakers made their second-half comeback. He found time for fun, too: In between a pair of Marc Gasol free throws in the third quarter, James and sidelined star Anthony Davis found time for a few rounds of rock-paper-scissors near the Lakers’ bench.
Lakers coach Frank Vogel said he has tried to keep joy as a part of the team’s approach – it’s just been tougher lately.
“I don’t think there’s a team in the league that’s gonna have fun when they’re down,” he said. “So our group has stayed lifted, we stayed believing in ourselves.”
Making his first start in more than a week, Schröder looked rusty on his jump shot, hitting just 6 for 14 from the field in his return from quarantine under the league’s health and safety protocols. But his quickness helped the Lakers climb out of an early 13-2 hole as he scored nine points in the first quarter.
He made his best impact at the free-throw line, where he was 9 for 9. The Lakers led by as much as 16 points, and James called the teammate he’s affectionately dubbed Dennis the Menace “an automatic spark.”
Merely having a second ball-handler seemed to juice the Lakers and especially James, who rediscovered his rightful place at the helm of the most dangerous transition game in the league (23 fast-break points). Pouncing on Portland’s 16 turnovers, the Lakers rang up 22 points off their mistakes.
The pivotal stretch came in the third quarter, when the Lakers flipped the advantage with a 31-19 edge. James was at the forefront, snatching steals from the Blazers’ passing lanes and directing the offense with precise passing. James had five assists and three steals in the third quarter alone.
“Just trying to do whatever it takes to help us get off this losing streak,” he said.
But the swagger didn’t emanate solely from James: It was down the roster as well. Alex Caruso reconnected with the rim with a pair of dunks, which were complemented by his scrappy second-half defense on Blazers All-Star Damian Lillard. After a few games looking rudderless, Talen Horton-Tucker stabilized, making plays out in the fast break (four assists).
Montrezl Harrell again waged guerrilla warfare from the dunker spot, finishing with 17 points and nine rebounds. On one notable third-quarter possession, Harrell notched a pair of offensive rebounds, the second of which was a tip-in.
As the ball fell through the net, he howled at the sky – not only had the Lakers found the way back to winning, they had rediscovered their mojo.
Still without Davis, the Lakers didn’t initially resemble the team they were in the playoffs last season when they blitzed Portland in a runaway first-round series. In the latest installment, the defense had trouble staying in front of Lillard, who flashed through traps and stunts like quicksilver – or hit the long balls he’s become known for over top.
One of the only times the Lakers could slow Lillard during the first half was late in the second quarter, when Horton-Tucker stepped on his right foot as he fired a 3-pointer. Lillard still made the shot on his way to 24 first-half points.
But the shooting cooled off after halftime: Portland was just 17 for 45 from the field in the second half and the giveaways piled up.
Much of that was the trapping of Lillard that helped the Lakers prevail in the postseason (though he was injured for much of that five-game series). The Blazers’ franchise star attempted just nine of his 24 shots in the second half, forcing his teammates to try to step up.
“That was a big focal point of our halftime film, was just making sure we’re sending Dame to our bigs and to the help,” Vogel said. “Once we got that communication from our bigs and got our guards really taking care of their side of it we did a much better job in those pick-and-rolls.”
The Lakers know all about that struggle of a supporting cast trying to press on without Schröder and Davis of late while losing five of their previous six games. But with the win, they look to finish strong in the final three games before the All-Star break against Golden State, Phoenix and Sacramento.
Every player they can use helps.
“To have another body, a fresh body – well, I wouldn’t say fresh when you’re out of the game for a week,” James said of Schröder. “But just to have him back in our lineup and back in our locker room, it just means so much to our team. It was big-time.”
@KingJames was all over the floor in the @Lakers home win.
28 PTS | 11 REB | 7 AST | 4 STL | 3 BLK pic.twitter.com/gYzfqVniqE
— NBA (@NBA) February 27, 2021
“What he’s able to do defensively for us really sets the tone for the team.” Frank Vogel talks with @LakersReporter about Dennis Schröder’s influence in his return with the #LakeShow. pic.twitter.com/aB51LhdQC8
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) February 27, 2021
.@KingJames talks with @LakersReporter about his defensive effort (4 STL, 3 BLK) and what getting Dennis back means for the #LakeShow. pic.twitter.com/UAEsz7x3PZ
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) February 27, 2021
.@ACFresh21 talks post-game about the impact of LeBron James and how the #Lakers were able to limit Damian Lillard in the second half of tonight’s win. @LakersReporter. pic.twitter.com/s6ujRJRPe8
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) February 27, 2021
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