Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

They always say that basketball is a game of runs.

The Lakers and Blazers took that to some serious extremes Sunday night in Portland. The Lakers got out to an 18-4 lead, and were then outscored 57-28 over the rest of the half, including 45-13 in the second quarter, the worst Q2 point differential in franchise history. LA came out of halftime, though, and plastered Portland, winning the third quarter by 20 points before running away with things in the fourth. As a result, the Lakers get their second big win of the weekend, and keep themselves in that tight bunch of teams muddying up the middle of the Western Conference.

LeBron James was huge, particularly in the second half, finishing with 37 points on only 24 field goal attempts, along with 11 rebounds, four dimes and two blocks. But he had plenty of help. Thomas Bryant scored a career high 31 points on only 15 shots, Dennis Schröder poured in 24 points and dished out eight assists, and Patrick Beverley's defensive energy on Damian Lillard helped pull the Lakers back into the game.

This was further evidence that the Lakers, for all of their flaws, do not quit on games. Not to get all cheesy and stuff, but there's a spirit with this group that shows up every game. It was there Friday when they hung in against the Grizzlies before stealing it at the end, and it was there in Portland when they refused to turn the page down 25 at the half.

So you look at the Western Conference standings, and save Denver and Memphis, no teams are truly distinguishing themselves, and from about 4 through 13, all the teams seem like they're about the same. Obviously plenty of teams (Lakers included) are missing huge pieces and plenty could change over the course of the next 35ish games, but right now?

And oh, things continue to look good on the Anthony Davis front. More updates from Darvin Ham.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers score an epic comeback, which says something about the character of this group.

SEGMENT 2: The Patrick Beverley Experience isn't always a good one, but Sunday, his energy (along with Bryant and Schröder was critical for a team that needed to believe in something a little crazy just to make the comeback.

SEGMENT 3: Where LA stands heading into a huge game Tuesday against the Clippers.

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