Lakers Notes: LeBron James, Patrick Beverley, Thomas Bryant

Star forward LeBron James and the Lakers managed to come back from a 71-46 deficit to defeat the Trail Blazers by a 121-112 count on the road Sunday, one of the team’s largest comebacks of the LeBron era.

“I guess it’s only one or two ways, you can either go out and you can lay down and get ready for the next game or you can see what happens in the third quarter, make a game of it,” James told reporters. “And for us as competitors, and our team and our makeup this year, we’re not a lay-down team. That’s just not the makeup of our club.”

James finished with 37 points and 11 rebounds, while reserve center Thomas Bryant erupted for 31 and 14, respectively.

It was a signature in what otherwise has looked like another lost season in LA.

“We’ve been through it a lot. And I just want to try to continue to keep improving, throughout late games and one-possession games, two-possession games when we’re down late,” James said. “And (Sunday) we did a good job of being able to execute defensively and offensively.”

• Guard Patrick Beverley gave the Lakers a halftime talk that helped spur the rally, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “Told the guys, ‘Just turn our swag up,'” Beverley said. “Understand we’re fortunate to play a game that gives us stability to take care of our families, be able to live a lifestyle, a fortunate lifestyle that a lot of people dream about.”
• Coach Darvin Ham has been impressed with Beverley’s approach. “We’ve brought him here to be a defensive agitator on behalf of the Lakers in a good manner,” Ham said, via McMenamin. “And he’s done that.”

Lakers were down 71-46 to Blazers at halftime on road. Win by nine. Pat Beverley looks at crowd, taps wrist, mocking Damian Lillard and Dame Time. Epic meltdown by Portland.

— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) January 23, 2023