Trail Blazers at Lakers
The Portland Trail Blazers have rediscovered their stride since LaMarcus Aldridge returned to action and look to record their fourth consecutive victory when they visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. Aldridge missed seven straight games due to a back injury that is still bothering him and has scored 25 or more points in two of his three games since returning. Portland’s winning streak has given it a two-game cushion over sixth-place Golden State in the Western Conference playoff race.
Lakers center Pau Gasol (vertigo) returned to practice on Monday and could be available after a four-game absence. Los Angeles has long been out of the postseason race but has won three of its past five games, including an impressive victory over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday. The Lakers gave up just 99 points to the Suns after allowing a season-worst 143 to the Minnesota Timberwolves two nights earlier. After the visit to Los Angeles, Portland plays five of its final six games at home.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT, TWC SportsNet (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (48-27): Center Robin Lopez has quietly had a standout season while playing in the shadows of Aldridge and star guard Damian Lillard. Lopez (302 offensive boards, 131 blocked shots) is the first NBA player to have 300 offensive rebounds and 100 blocks in the same season since Dwight Howard in 2010-11 and joins Kermit Washington (325 in 1979-80), Buck Williams (315 in 1993-94) and Chris Dudley (325 in 1994-95) as the only players in Portland history to collect 300 offensive boards in a season. He has 27 double-doubles and 31 double-digit rebounding outings while averaging 10.9 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots.
ABOUT THE LAKERS (25-48): Center Chris Kaman had a season-high 28 points and matched a season best with 17 rebounds against the Suns but could again be the odd man out if Gasol returns. Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni seldom pairs Kaman and Gasol together, which is frustrating to both players. “I’m not in charge, I don’t run this show,” Kaman told reporters. “I don’t turn the wheel, I don’t make the clock work. It’s somebody else controlling me. I’m a puppet.” And here’s Gasol’s take: “We got good results from it (during the preseason) but we never really went back to it during the entire season. We’re not the coach. We don’t make those decisions.”
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The teams have split two meetings this season and the Lakers have won six of the past eight matchups.
2. Los Angeles swingman Xavier Henry (knee) could return after missing two games.
3. Trail Blazers reserve G Mo Williams is averaging 17.5 points on 14-of-21 shooting over the past two games.