The Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Lakers are playing live on the NBA schedule on Friday and the game from the Staples Center starts at 10:30 pm ET and is on ESPN and streaming online from the WatchESPN website as Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge push towards the playoffs.
The two teams are playing for the fourth time this year and the Lakers have yet to win a game, with the Blazers taking the first three matchups to lead 3-0 this year. The Blazers have 48 wins and they are fourth in the west this year and it comes after they won over the Rockets last year in the playoffs. The Lakers come into the game having lost three of the last five games and now they host the Blazers in LA.
The Lakers have not had much to cheer about this season, but Jordan Clarkson has played well and he could stick around in Los Angeles next year. Wayne Ellington has also played well but he will be out with a shoulder injury and Clarkson has stepped up, averaging 19 points and six assists over the last five games. Jeremy Lin has been up and down this year and he will be a free agent after the season and he will be a target for the Rockets on the market.
The Lakers come into the game after a loss against the New Orleans Pelicans and that came after a win against the Sixers. The team had lost two against the Nets and Raptors after a win against the Timberwolves and they now matchup with the Blazers. The Blazers are one of the best offensive teams in the league and they come in after a loss against the Clippers after they were up by 19 points early.
Portland has been allowing a lot of points per game over the past couple weeks and they will need to get things in shape heading into the playoffs. The Blazers have eight games left this season and they have a decent;y easy schedule with games against the Nets, Lakers and also the Timberwolves. The Lakers are still in the mix for the lottery and they come in having the toughest schedule in the league this season, according to ESPN.com.
The Blazers have not always had the best run in LA over the past couple years, but they won in Los Angeles earlier in the season after having lost six in a row at the Staples Center. Portland has already clinched a playoff spot and that makes it two years in a row and they have now won five games in a row against the Lakers.
Check here for the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Lakers live coverage.
