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)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Alexander Holtz and Shea Theodore scored in a 1:05 span late in the second period and the Vegas Golden Knights had two more two-goal sprees to rout the Nashville Predators 7-1 on Saturday night for their seventh straight victory.

Pavel Dorofeyev and captain Mark Stone added goals in a three-minute span in the third, with Dorofeyev scoring his 20th of the season and Stone getting his 10th goal in 11 games and 18th of the season. Stone has a career-best 11-game points streak.

Cole Reinhardt and Mitch Marner scored two more goals in quick succession, striking in a 50-second span, and Keegan Kolesar capped the five-goal third. Akira Schmid made 26 saves.

Luke Evangelista and Filip Forsberg scored for Nashville, and Justus Annunen stopped 29 shots. The Predators had won three straight, the last a 7-3 victory at Colorado on Friday night

Holtz tied it at 1 with 2:43 left in the second period. Off Theodore's feed, Holtz one-timed a slap shot that deflected off Nashville’s Fedor Svechkov. Theodore — playing his 600th NHL game — scored on Vegas’ next shot, firing a snapper through a crowd with 1:38 to go.

Dorofeyev scored on a break off a pass from Mitch Marner at 5:52. Stone scored on another break at 8:52, with Eichel setting it up. Reinhardt struck with 7:34 to go, Marner with 6:44 left, and Kolesar with 4:48 remaining.

Forsberg scored on a power play for Nashville in the final minute. Evangelista opened the scoring with 5:50 left in the first period.

Jonathan Marchessault, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the playoff MVP in Vegas’ 2023 championship, was activated by Nashville on Saturday after missing 14 games because of a lower-body injury. He’s in his second season with the Predators after seven with Vegas.

Predators: Host Buffalo on Tuesday night.

Golden Knights: Host Philadelphia on Monday night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61) catches a puck against Nashville Predators defenseman Nicolas Hague (41) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Jeremy Lauzon (5) and Nashville Predators defenseman Nicolas Hague (41) fight during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Jeremy Lauzon (5) collides into Nashville Predators goaltender Justus Annunen (29) while skating against Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Jeremy Lauzon, left, and Nashville Predators defenseman Nicolas Hague (41) fight during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore (27), right wing Alexander Holtz (26), center Tanner Laczynski (28) and left wing Cole Reinhardt (23) celebrate after Holtz's goal against the Nashville Predators during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)