Lakers at Trail Blazers
The Los Angeles Lakers became the Golden State Warriors’ latest victim on their road to history and suffered their worst loss in an already disappointing season. The Lakers will try to avoid sending their latest losing streak to five straight when they visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday.
This season is looking more and more like the last of Kobe Bryant’s Hall of Fame career, and the former star hit a low point with four points on 1-of-14 shooting at Golden State. "I'm not really worried about it, honestly," Bryant told reporters. "My shooting will be better. I could've scored 80 (on Tuesday), it wouldn't have made a (darn) difference.” Bryant went 6-of-22 from the field in a 107-93 home loss to the Trail Blazers on Sunday while Damian Lillard went off for 30 points and 13 assists in the win. Lillard came within two assists of a triple-double when Portland returned home on Tuesday but went 4-of-22 from the field in the 93-88 loss to the Chicago Bulls.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, TWC SportsNet (Los Angeles), KGW (Portland)
ABOUT THE LAKERS (2-12): Bryant is shooting a career-worst 31.1 percent from the field, including 19.5 percent from 3-point range, but head coach Byron Scott is not considering reducing his minutes. "He's been doing this for a long time,” Scott told reporters at Wednesday’s practice. “I'm not so much worried about Kobe. I am concerned about his shooting percentage and shots so far, but so far as knowing him the way I've known him and how long he's played in this league, I'm not worried about him finding it.” Bryant was one of four starters failing to reach double figures on Tuesday, with Julius Randle’s 10 points leading the way.
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (6-10): Portland had a two-game winning streak snapped with Tuesday’s loss but was encouraged by a defensive effort that saw it match its season low for points allowed. “I think we should also be excited with the way we defended tonight, the way we competed and gave ourselves a chance to win the game,” Lillard told reporters. “We’ve got to keep that mindset and keep that type of focus and do it every game. The shots will fall some nights. If we can put that defensive effort with execution offensively, we’ll be good.” The Trail Blazers held the Lakers to 36.4 percent from the field in Sunday’s victory.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Trail Blazers C Mason Plumlee recorded his third straight double-double on Tuesday and is averaging 15.3 points and 12.7 rebounds in that span.
2. Los Angeles G Nick Young is 4-of-16 from the field over the last two games.
3. Portland has taken six straight in the series.