That didn’t last long.

For three glorious games, the Lakers looked like they had discovered the secret to winning basketball in 2026: score so many points on offense that nobody notices you can’t stop anybody on defense.

Through their first three games of the NBA season, Luka Doncic was putting up MVP numbers. Austin Reaves was playing like an All-Star and the perfect No. 2 scoring option alongside Doncic. Walker Kessler looked like the trade of the century, catching alley-oops, protecting the rim and putting up numbers at center the Lakers haven’t seen since Wilt Chamberlain and Shaquille O’Neal.

Damian Lillard (0) of the Portland Trail Blazers shoots a 3-point basket during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026.…