Depleted Lakers run down by Blazers

Reaves scores 41, but with seven players missing, L.A. can't keep up with Portland.

- BY BRODERICK TURNER

THE LAKERS' Austin Reaves scores two of his 41 points against the Trail Blazers. Donovan Clingan in the first half. Reaves has scored 143 points in his first four games to tie Elgin Baylor's season-opening team mark.

(KYUSEOK DJAE/USA TODAY Sports images)

Injuries nearly swallowed the Lakers whole Monday night, leaving them short on ballhandlers, key role players and star power.

They were down seven players and they were playing on back-to-back nights to top it off, leaving the task daunting.

Still, the Lakers had to press on against the odds, which they were unable to overcome in falling 122-108 to the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night at Crypto-.com Arena.

Austin Reaves did his best to keep the Lakers in the game, scoring 41 points one night after scoring a career-high 51 at Sacramento. Reaves has scored 143 points in the first four games this season, tying him with Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor (1962) for the most points in Lakers' history over that span to start the season.