Sharpe leads Blazers to 132-116 win over the Lakers, playing without Doncic

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Shaedon Sharpe had 25 points to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 132-116 victory Saturday night over the Los Angeles Lakers, who were playing without top scorer Luka Doncic.

Jerami Grant and Caleb Love each added 22 points for the Blazers, who have won seven of their last nine games.

Marcus Smart had 25 points for the Lakers but he limped off the court midway through the fourth quarter and did not return. The extent of his injury was not known.

LeBron James added 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Drew Timme finished with 21 points off the bench.

Doncic, who leads the league with an average of 33.6 points a game, did not play because of left groin soreness. Lakers coach JJ Redick said before the game that Doncic's MRI was clear and he's day-to-day. Doncic had 39 points in the Lakers' 135-117 loss to Charlotte on Thursday.

Los Angeles was also without center Deandre Ayton because of left knee soreness.

Portland remained without top scorer Deni Avdija, who missed his third game because of a back injury. Avdija was averaging 26.1 points a game.

The Blazers led by 14 points in the first half, but the Moda Center crowd still cheered loudly when James dunked to close the Lakers within 53-47 in the second quarter. Portland led 71-61 at the half.

James lobbed a pass to Smart who hit a 3-pointer to pull the Lakers within 75-67 in the third quarter but Sharpe answered with a dunk.

Portland stretched its lead to 24 points late in the game and Redick sent James to the bench with 5:40 left.

The Lakers host Toronto on Sunday.

The Trail Blazers visit the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night.

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

Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant reacts after a basket against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives to the basket as Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III, right, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

Portland Trail Blazers guard Sidy Cissoko (91) reacts after a call during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dunks against the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent, left, drives to the basket as Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara, right, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

The economy, inflation and how those forces could impact the lives of Americans were front and center over the past week. Trips to the grocery store or gas station are more painful than they were last year, and that is impacting the decisions of both households and businesses.

Here’s a snapshot of prominent economic data and news that occurred over the past week and what it potentially means for you.

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate climbed this week to its highest level in nearly nine months, driving up borrowing costs for homebuyers during what’s traditionally the housing market’s busiest time of the year.

The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate rose to 6.51% from 6.36% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. Despite the sharp increase, the average rate remains below 6.86%, where it was a year ago.

Rates have been mostly trending higher since the war with Iran began. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has roiled energy markets, sending crude oil prices sharply higher — a key driver of inflation.

Expectations of higher oil prices and worries about big and growing debts for the U.S. government and others have pushed up long-term bond yields, causing mortgage rates to head higher.

U.S. retailers have spent months navigating an uncertain economic environment, from President Donald Trump’s tariffs to the impact of soaring gasoline prices due to the Iran war. The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline rose again this week, ending at about $4.55 per gallon on Friday, according to AAA. Gasoline prices are about 45% above where they were at this time last year.

Based on quarterly financial reports from Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Lowe’s and TJX, shoppers are cautious but still spending, helped by more generous tax refunds. Yet there is a widespread belief among economists that once those refunds dry up, shoppers will pull back on spending. Consumer spending is the dominant economic engine for the U.S., and retreat would have broad implications for the U.S.

Walmart issued a forecast for the current quarter on Thursday that was weaker than what Wall Street had been expecting. Target raised its annual revenue outlook on Wednesday, saying it expected momentum to continue the rest of the year. Yet the upgraded sales expectations were still below the pace of the first quarter.

Fewer Americans filed for jobless aid last week as layoffs remain low despite a number of uncertainties that continue to cloud the economy.

U.S. applications for unemployment benefits for the week ending May 16 fell by 3,000 to 209,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That’s fewer than the 213,000 new applications analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet had forecast.

Weekly filings for unemployment benefits are considered a proxy for U.S. layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the job market.

Despite historically low layoffs, the labor market appears to be stuck in what economists call a “low-hire, low-fire” state. That’s kept the unemployment rate low at 4.3%, but left many of those out of work struggling to find new employment.

The split between Wall Street and most U.S. households grew even wider Friday, as U.S. stocks rose toward the finish of an eighth straight winning week, their longest such streak since 2023. That’s even though a survey showed on the same day that U.S. consumers are feeling worse about the economy.

Shares of Workday and Zoom Communications rose after both delivered better profit reports for the latest quarter than analysts expected.

They’re the latest companies to top analysts’ expectations for profits for the start of 2026. And the cavalcade of such reports has helped U.S. stocks remain near their records. Stock prices tend to follow the path of corporate profits over the long term.

A hiring sign is displayed at a restaurant in Niles, Ill., Thursday, May 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Drones operated by Zipline leave base to make deliveries from a Walmart store in Pea Ridge, Ark., Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Options trader Anthony Spina works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Trader Robert Arciero works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)