LeBron James scores 40 points to lead Lakers past Trail Blazers 110-102

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — LeBron James scored 40 points, including eight straight in a fourth-quarter surge, and Austin Reaves had 32 as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 110-102 on Thursday night.

The Lakers were without guard Luka Doncic, who missed the game as he continues to recover from a strained calf.

Deni Avdija led Portland with 28 points.

After Portland tied it at 81 in the fourth quarter, Reaves gave the Lakers the lead again with a scoop shot. James then kicked things into a higher gear.

After an empty possession for Portland, James made a 3-pointer to give the Lakers an 86-81 lead. He hit another 3 moments later to make it 89-81. James then made a fadeaway jumper to cap a run of eight straight points — part of a 10-3 Lakers stretch that forced the Blazers to call a timeout.

After Portland’s timeout, James hit another jumper to make it 95-86. Reaves made three free throws to push the lead back to double-digits at 99-89.

Lakers: Coach JJ Redick praised James for his approach in building a partnership with Doncic. “I think he’s been fantastic since we got Luka and just in terms of his engagement and his ability to connect with (Doncic)," Redick said. "He’s going to sacrifice as much as anybody. He’s on the train, full go and he’s been that way for several months.”

Blazers: While rookie center Donovan Clingan is averaging 16 minutes per game, the Blazers think he’s ready for more following the injury to starter Deandre Ayton. Clingan finished with six points and six rebounds.

James had a two-handed slam with 7:25 left in the second quarter to give the Lakers a 40-22 lead, their biggest of the game. He then helped Los Angeles pull away with his scorung surge in the fourth.

The Blazers were 14 of 21 (67%) from the foul line, while the Lakers were 23 of 25 (92%).

The Lakers visit the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night. The Blazers host the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija, bottom right, looks to shoot between Los Angeles Lakers forward Dorian Finney-Smith, top, and center Jaxson Hayes, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara, top, shoots over Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Goodwin (30) and guard Gabe Vincent during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick, left, and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups watch from the sideline during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups gestures during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson, right, reaches for a loose ball in front of Los Angeles Lakers guards Gabe Vincent (7) and Jordan Goodwin during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija dunks against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, shoots over Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, shoots over Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James grimaces during the national anthem before an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, center, looks to pass the ball between Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan, right, and guard Anfernee Simons during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump on Sunday fired off another warning to the government of Cuba as the close ally of Venezuela braces for potential widespread unrest after Nicolás Maduro was deposed as Venezuela's leader.

Cuba, a major beneficiary of Venezuelan oil, has now been cut off from those shipments as U.S. forces continue to seize tankers in an effort to control the production, refining and global distribution of the country's oil products.

Trump said on social media that Cuba long lived off Venezuelan oil and money and had offered security in return, “BUT NOT ANYMORE!”

“THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA - ZERO!” Trump said in the post as he spent the weekend at his home in southern Florida. “I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.” He did not explain what kind of deal.

The Cuban government said 32 of its military personnel were killed during the American operation last weekend that captured Maduro. The personnel from Cuba’s two main security agencies were in Caracas, the Venezuelan capital, as part of an agreement between Cuba and Venezuela.

“Venezuela doesn’t need protection anymore from the thugs and extortionists who held them hostage for so many years,” Trump said Sunday. “Venezuela now has the United States of America, the most powerful military in the World (by far!), to protect them, and protect them we will.”

Trump also responded to another account’s social media post predicting that his secretary of state, Marco Rubio, will be president of Cuba: “Sounds good to me!” Trump said.

Trump and top administration officials have taken an increasingly aggressive tone toward Cuba, which had been kept economically afloat by Venezuela. Long before Maduro's capture, severe blackouts were sidelining life in Cuba, where people endured long lines at gas stations and supermarkets amid the island’s worst economic crisis in decades.

Trump has said previously that the Cuban economy, battered by years of a U.S. embargo, would slide further with the ouster of Maduro.

“It’s going down,” Trump said of Cuba. “It’s going down for the count.”

A person watches the oil tanker Ocean Mariner, Monrovia, arrive to the bay in Havana, Cuba, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

President Donald Trump attends a meeting with oil executives in the East Room of the White House, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)