Unbeaten streaks always end. Sometimes they end because shots stop falling, and sometimes they end because a team completely forgets how to stop anybody.
The Los Angeles Lakers found out the hard way on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. JJ Redick's squad dropped a wild 136-129 contest to the Portland Trail Blazers, tasting defeat for the first time in the young 2026-27 NBA season. If you just looked at the box score, you would think L.A. played a decent offensive game. They scored 129 points. Luka Doncic dropped 41 points on high efficiency, shooting 12-for-22 from the field and dishing out nine assists with just two turnovers. Recently making waves recently: Why Your Analysis Of Pistons Vs Knicks Keeps Missing The Mark.
Yet, the defense was porous from the opening tip. Giving up 136 points in modern basketball will get you beat on any given night, regardless of how much star power you roll out.
The Defensive Collapse That Capped the Night
You cannot surrender nearly 140 points and expect to stay undefeated. Walker Kessler didn't sugarcoat it after the final buzzer sounded. The team's interior anchor admitted that his own defensive effort wasn't up to standard and took accountability for the collapse down the stretch. Further information into this topic are detailed by ESPN.
When a team trades baskets all night, the game usually comes down to who gets a single stop in the final two minutes. Portland made those stops. The Blazers executed cleanly under pressure, leaning on veteran poise and sharp perimeter shooting to break a 121-121 tie in the game's waning moments.
Redick now faces his first real test as a head coach early in the season. Managing expectations and building an identity in Los Angeles is tough enough when you are winning. When defensive lapses turn into a 1-3 record or a slide, the noise gets loud very quickly.
Luka Doncic Keeps Rolling Despite the Loss
Let's be clear about one thing. Luka isn't the problem. His transition to Los Angeles continues to produce staggering offensive numbers. He controlled the pace, found open teammates, and kept his turnover count down to a bare minimum.
Austin Reaves also hit a notable milestone during the shootout, securing his 1,500th career assist. The backcourt production is there night in and night out. But basketball requires balance. When the secondary rotation gave up runs to Portland's bench unit, the Lakers found themselves scrambling to plug holes instead of playing their preferred brand of basketball.
Quick Turnarounds Leave No Time to Panic
The bright side of an early-season stumble is the schedule itself. The NBA calendar moves too fast for brooding.
With another high-stakes matchup looming less than 24 hours later against the Clippers, Redick and his coaching staff don't have the luxury of holding a long, exhaustive film session. They have to fix the defensive communication on the fly. Interior rotations need to sharpen up, and perimeter containment has to improve immediately.
If the Lakers want to be true contenders in the Western Conference, defensive accountability has to start right now. No more trading high-scoring halves and hoping out-talent opponents at the buzzer. Fix the foundation or watch the rest of the league exploit the same gaps Portland exposed.
