LeBRON James scored 26 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out nine assists as the Los Angeles Lakers gave a glimpse at an identity for the road ahead with a convincing 122-97 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday at Inglewood, Calif.

Playing with Luka Doncic (calf) on the bench after acquiring him in a blockbuster trade with the Dallas Mavericks over the weekend, the Lakers got 20 points apiece from Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves and sped up their offense to lead by as many as 24 in the first half. Reaves also supplied nine assists.

The Lakers shot 55.6 percent from the floor and 48.6 percent from 3-point range for the game as their efficient offense made up for defensive deficiencies created without the services of Anthony Davis and Max Christie, who were both traded to the Mavericks.

Norman Powell scored 20 points and Derrick Jones Jr. added 17 for the Clippers, who gave up at least 122 points for the eighth time this season.

Kawhi Leonard scored 11 points in 22 minutes while playing his 12th game this season after returning from a knee injury. Trade additions Drew Eubanks and Patty Mills made their Clippers debuts in the fourth quarter and combined for two points on four shots.

The Lakers jumped out to a 10-point lead about 9 1/2 minutes into the game and were up 45-29 after one quarter. The Lakers then held their first 20-point lead with 9:48 remaining in the first half, and they were up 73-50 at halftime.

The Clippers pulled within 13 points at 79-66 in the third quarter before the Lakers went on a 7-0 run to go back up by 20 at 86-66 about midway through the period.

The Lakers went up 105-78 with 8:56 remaining in the game after back-to-back 3-pointers from rookie Dalton Knecht and Hachimura, then cruised to the finish line to win for the ninth time in their past 11 games.

Lakers rookie Bronny James played the final six minutes and finished with three points, making the first 3-pointer of his NBA career with 4:37 remaining.

After losing 11 consecutive games to the Clippers through the end of the 2022-23 season, the Lakers have now won four of the past six meetings with their crosstown rival.

Meanwhile, Anfernee Simons recorded 22 points and seven assists and Jerami Grant added 20 points as the Portland Trail Blazers continued their home domination of the Indiana Pacers with a 112-89 victory on Tuesday night.

Scoot Henderson amassed 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists and Shaedon Sharpe produced 17 points and three steals as the Trail Blazers won their fifth consecutive game and prevailed for the ninth time in the past 10. Six of the nine wins during the 10-game stretch have been by double digits.

Toumani Camara added 13 points for Portland, which never trailed and won for the 15th time in its past 16 home contests against Indiana.

Andrew Nembhard scored 17 points and Pascal Siakam added 16 for the Pacers, who had a four-game winning streak halted and lost for just the third time in the past 15 games.

T.J. McConnell put up 14 points and Bennedict Mathurin added 12 points and seven rebounds as Indiana had a six-game road winning streak stopped, one shy of the franchise record set at the outset of the 2003-04 season.

Portland made 44.6 percent of its shots and was 14 of 37 (37.8 percent) from 3-point range. Robert Williams III collected 11 rebounds as the Trail Blazers had a 51-39 rebounding advantage.

The Pacers connected on 42 percent of their field-goal attempts, including a lowly 5 of 24 (20.8 percent) from behind the arc.

Indiana, down by seven at halftime, moved within one 4 1/2 minutes into the second half before Portland ripped off 11 consecutive points.

Williams started the surge with a dunk and Deni Avdija followed with a 3-pointer to make it 58-52. Sharpe had two dunks around a basket by Deandre Ayton as Portland took a 64-52 lead with 5:01 left in the third quarter.

Consecutive dunks by Camara and Ayton pushed the Trail Blazers lead to 71-56 with 3:12 remaining in the quarter.

Portland led 78-66 entering the final period before Indiana moved within 82-76 on two free throws by Siakam with 8:43 remaining.

The Trail Blazers answered with Simons' basket and Henderson's driving hoop and ensuing 3-pointer to make it a 13-point lead with 6:13 left. Simons added a jumper to cap the 9-0 surge and make it 91-76.

Simons and Grant later hit consecutive 3-pointers to make it 101-81 with 4:06 left, and Portland's lead topped out at 25.

Simons scored 12 first-half points as Portland led 45-38 at the break. Mathurin and Siakam had 10 points apiece in the half for Indiana.

REUTERS