The Portland Trail Blazers are 3-0. Ja Morant and Deni Avdija scored 23 points apiece Tuesday night as Portland beat the Los Angeles Lakers 136-129 for the franchise's second 3-0 start in 15 years.

Damian Lillard added 21 points. He clinched the win with his fourth 3-pointer with 43 seconds left. Jrue Holiday scored 22 for Portland, which is still perfect under new coach Micah Nori.

Luka Doncic had 41 points and nine assists in the Lakers' first loss of the season. It came days after he scored 52 at Utah. Austin Reaves added 26.

Three flops in six minutes

The end of the game turned into a referee story. Morant, Portland's Toumani Camara and Lakers forward Ziaire Williams were all given technical fouls for flopping in the final six minutes. The teams combined for 71 free throws.

Morant was called for a flop while guarding Reaves with Portland up 121-120. "I just showed my hands and took a bump in my chest," Morant said. "It ain't like I fell. I'll try to appeal it. I think it's like a $2,000 [fine]."

Nori said three flopping calls in one game was unusual with only "27 flops called last year in 2,000 games total." Lillard said a late flop call should be saved for something obvious. "If it's not a crazy flop, you shouldn't call that when the game is back and forth," he said.

Up next

Portland hosts Memphis on Thursday. The Lakers visit the Clippers on Wednesday.