Kings at Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers have wrapped up homecourt advantage for the first round of the playoffs and look to win for the 14th time in 17 games when they host the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday. Portland pulled out a 104-101 road victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday when forward Maurice Harkless drained a corner 3-pointer as time expired to clinch a top-four seed.
The Trail Blazers would move up to the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference if they end the regular season in a two-way tie with the Houston Rockets due to a 2-1 edge in the season series but star point guard Damian Lillard isn't worrying about scenarios. "The first round, now, is as dangerous and as hard as it's ever been in the West because there's a lot of balance," Lillard told reporters. "I don't think we should be worried about it. We've just got to take care of right now." The Kings have dropped their last 10 games in Portland with their last victory in the Pacific Northwest being a 99-80 triumph Dec. 8, 2012. Sacramento's 133-129 home loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday clinched its 13th straight losing campaign.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Sacramento), NBCS Northwest (Portland)
ABOUT THE KINGS (39-42): Sacramento had a goal of finishing at least .500 and the Kings were sitting at 36-36 before dropping six of their past nine games. "It's still been a terrific season but by and large over the last nine games, I think we've played well once," Sacramento coach Dave Joerger said after the loss to the Pelicans. Rookie power forward Marvin Bagley III had 19 points and 14 rebounds against New Orleans and the No. 2 overall choice in June's draft has recorded six double-doubles in his past 10 appearances.
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (52-29): Harkless scored a season-best 26 points, collected eight rebounds and matched his career high of four blocked shots in a stellar showing against the Lakers. "I took the shot with confidence," Harkless said in a postgame television interview of the game winner. "I felt pretty good. My body is feeling good. I felt rested. I was ready to go." Portland would like get shooting guard CJ McCollum (knee) back on track as he is 8-of-26 shooting in two contests after a 10-game absence.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Lillard averaged 30 points as the teams split this season's first two meetings.
2. Sacramento SG Buddy Hield has 599 career 3-pointers to tie Lillard's mark for most during a player's first three seasons.
3. Portland C Enes Kanter recorded 22 points and 16 rebounds against the Lakers for his fifth double-double in the past six games.