PORTLAND -- Playing without their three leading scorers from last season's final roster, the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 123-115 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.

"I told the guys before the game, 'We have enough in this locker room to win this game,'" said Lakers coach JJ Redick. "My belief level in this group that's here in Portland right now and in uniform right now is as high as it's been."

The Lakers went from 3.5-point favorites earlier Monday at ESPN BET to 10.5-point underdogs after Luka Doncic (injury management coming back from a lower left leg contusion) and Austin Reaves (right groin soreness) were ruled out du

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