The Los Angeles Lakers are set to host the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night, following their recent 122-110 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. This game marks the Lakers’ first outing since trading D’Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets and elevating Austin Reaves to a more prominent role.
Key Points to Watch
- Austin Reaves’ Performance: Reaves stepped up in his expanded role, scoring 35 points, dishing out 10 assists, and grabbing nine rebounds in the loss to Cleveland. His performance will be crucial for the Lakers moving forward.
- Injuries: The Lakers are dealing with injuries to Jarred Vanderbilt (knee) and Christian Wood (knee), while Gabe Vincent (oblique) and Jalen Hood-Schifino (hamstring) are questionable. The Trail Blazers are also dealing with injuries, including Matisse Thybulle (ankle) and Dalano Banton (hip), with Jerami Grant (face) also questionable.
- Previous Matchup: The Lakers won their previous meeting with the Trail Blazers 107-98 on December 8, with Rui Hachimura stepping up in LeBron James’ absence.
- Portland’s Struggles: The Trail Blazers have been struggling, losing their last two games and committing a season-high 26 turnovers in their recent loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Predictions
The Lakers are favored by 8.5 points, and the over/under is set at 224.5 points. The Lakers will look to bounce back from their recent loss and secure a win against the struggling Trail Blazers. Austin Reaves’ continued strong performance will be key for the Lakers, while the Trail Blazers will need to improve their three-point shooting and reduce turnovers to have a chance at victory.
It will be interesting to see how the Lakers manage without Russell and whether the Trail Blazers can overcome their recent struggles.
