Lakers at Trail Blazers
One night after Kobe Bryant made the game-winning shot, the Los Angeles star won’t even be in the building when the Lakers visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday. Bryant’s jump hook in the lane with 12.4 seconds left propelled Los Angeles to an 88-87 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday and he didn’t travel with the team to Portland as the club wants him to rest. The Trail Blazers suffered a 115-107 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.
Portland sharpshooter Wesley Matthews leads the NBA with 105 3-pointers and has been on a tear by making 27 over the last five contests. The Trail Blazers’ loss to the Hawks was just their second in 11 games and their home mark is a gaudy 15-3 despite the setback. The Lakers trailed most of the contest against the Pacers and overcame a 13-point deficit for only their third win in 10 games, and Bryant’s 3-pointer with two minutes to play represented their first lead since the first quarter.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, TWC SportsNet (Los Angeles), KGW (Portland)
ABOUT THE LAKERS (11-23): Small forward Nick Young parlayed a 12-of-12 effort from the free-throw line into a 22-point effort against the Pacers for his third 20-point outing in nine games. Consistency has been a concern as Young also has scored 10 or fewer points three times during the stretch, including contests of four and three points. Reserve guard Jeremy Lin has scored in double figures in back-to-back games after doing so in only four of the previous 12 games.
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (26-8): Portland took a blow in Saturday’s loss when center Joel Freeland suffered a shoulder injury that will sideline him at least two weeks. Freeland started eight straight games after Robin Lopez broke his right hand, and the short-handed Trail Blazers are expected to increase the role of Chris Kaman as well as give time to Meyers Leonard and Thomas Robinson. “Certainly when you’re down two of your bigs in the rotation, that makes things more difficult,” Portland coach Terry Stotts told reporters.” I think each (injury) is disappointing and is going to be difficult, but it’s next man up.”
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Portland has won 25 of the past 33 home games in the series.
2. Los Angeles F Wesley Johnson (hip flexor) was injured against the Pacers and will miss Monday’s contest.
3. Trail Blazers PF LaMarcus Aldridge is averaging 26.5 points and 12.5 rebounds in two games since missing two due to an illness.