By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
LeBron James had 36 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists as the Los Angeles Lakers advanced to the second round of the playoffs after beating the short-handed Portland Trail Blazers 131-122 in Game 5 on Saturday.
Anthony Davis had a playoff-high performance with 43 points for the top-seeded Lakers in their first playoff appearance since 2013.
Portland lacked its bubble leader, Damian Lillard, who has left the bubble with a sprain on his right knee earlier in the week. CJ McCollum stepped up for the Trail Blazers with 36 points, 7 assists, while Carmelo Anthony posted 27 points, seven rebounds. Jusuf Nurkic left the court with 16 points and 10 rebounds across 37 minutes.
The Lakers will play the winner of the series between Houston and Oklahoma City, with the first team leading 3-2 with a 114-80 victory earlier Saturday.