The 17-19 Lakers are recently coming off a five-game losing streak that put them below the mark, and failed to get back to .500 on Wednesday in a close loss at Memphis. At 13-21, Portland’s not even close to their pre-season expectations and are currently on the outside of the West’s playoff picture. They’ve also dropped eight of their last 10 showings.

Tip-off at Staples Center goes at 10:30 p.m. EST with the Lakers as a 5.5¬-point home favourite and the total listed at 232.

Trail Blazers vs. Lakers NBA Betting Odds

Given the underachieving on both sides, neither club is shining against the spread too. Portland’s 12-22 against the spread on the season but 3-11 in road games while Los Angeles is 14-22 but 6-14 in home games. Portland’s also lost 14 of their last 16 road games straight up.

Head-to-head, Los Angeles has covered in 10 of their last 15 against the Trail Blazers. This is the second meeting of the season between these teams; the Trail Blazers took the first game 105-90 back on November 6. But LeBron James was out, and Anthony Davis left the game early. Davis hasn’t played since December 17 and will be out for Friday’s bout.

Portland Trail Blazers

Portland’s played their last two games with seven players missing due to health and safety protocols, as well as head coach Chauncey Billups. Guard C.J. McCollum is still out after a lung collapse too. Starting centre Jusuf Nurkic and forward Robert Covington are both on the team’s COVID list and will likely miss Friday.

With their absences, Damian Lillard and Norm Powell picked up their workload with 32 points apiece in Wednesday’s 120-105 loss versus Utah. The Trail Blazers’ three other starters combined for 19 points, which speaks to COVID is currently impacting their squad. Lillard’s 12th in the NBA with 24.2 points per game, while Powell’s averaged over 20 points a night in December.

Los Angeles Lakers

Without Davis, LeBron has elevated his game — he’s averaging just under 30 points and nine rebounds in December while shooting over 39 per cent from three. In L.A.’s most recent loss, James was a one-man show with 37 points and 13 rebounds while connecting on eight threes. Russell Westbrook added a triple-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. Westbrook now has a league-high eight triple-doubles on the year.

Guard Malik Monk has scored at least 15 points in his last three games since re-entering the Lakers’ starting lineup. It’s a strong number for the 2017 first-rounder who’s averaged 9.3 points per game over his career.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Trail Blazers vs. Lakers?

• Regular Season

Trail Blazers Team Leaders

POR

Points	Damian Lillard 23.97
Assists	Damian Lillard 7.31
Rebounds	Jusuf Nurkic 11.05
FG%	Drew Eubanks 64.6
Steals	Kris Dunn 1.64
Blocks	Nassir Little 0.86

LAL

Points	LeBron James 30.27
Assists	Russell Westbrook 7.05
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 9.85
FG%	Jemerrio Jones 66.7
Steals	Sekou Doumbouya 1.5
Blocks	Anthony Davis 2.25

• Regular Season

Lakers Team Leaders

POR

Points	Damian Lillard 23.97
Assists	Damian Lillard 7.31
Rebounds	Jusuf Nurkic 11.05
FG%	Drew Eubanks 64.6
Steals	Kris Dunn 1.64
Blocks	Nassir Little 0.86

LAL

Points	LeBron James 30.27
Assists	Russell Westbrook 7.05
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 9.85
FG%	Jemerrio Jones 66.7
Steals	Sekou Doumbouya 1.5
Blocks	Anthony Davis 2.25

Injuries

Portland

Keljin Blevins (SG)

Ques Sun Illness - 09 / 04 / 22

CJ Elleby (SF)

Ques Sun Illness - 09 / 04 / 22

Drew Eubanks (PF)

Out Sun Wrist - 09 / 04 / 22

Greg Brown III (SF)

Prob Sun Ankle - 08 / 04 / 22

Kris Dunn (PG)

Out Sun Ankle - 08 / 04 / 22

Brandon Williams (PG)

Prob Thurs Quadricep - 05 / 04 / 22

Greg Brown III (SF)

Prob Wed Eye - 27 / 03 / 22

Trendon Watford (SF)

Mid April Knee - 27 / 03 / 22

Justise Winslow (SF)

Out indefinitely Calf - 24 / 03 / 22

Greg Brown III (SF)

Prob Wed Ankle - 22 / 03 / 22

L.A. Lakers

Talen Horton-Tucker (SG)

day-to-day Ankle - 10 / 04 / 22

Dwight Howard (C)

Out Sun Rest - 10 / 04 / 22

Carmelo Anthony (SF)

Out Sun Illness - 07 / 04 / 22

Anthony Davis (PF)

Out Sun Foot - 06 / 04 / 22

Russell Westbrook (PG)

Out Sun Shoulder - 06 / 04 / 22

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Tues Foot - 04 / 04 / 22

Wenyen Gabriel (SF)

Prob Sun Ankle - 03 / 04 / 22

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Sun Foot - 02 / 04 / 22

Carmelo Anthony (SF)

Prob Sun Illness - 01 / 04 / 22

Wenyen Gabriel (SF)

Ques Fri Ankle - 01 / 04 / 22

Injuries

Portland

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Keljin Blevins (SG)	Ques Sun	Illness - 09 / 04 / 22	0-2	0-2	+ -
Blevins departed the previous contest with a non-COVID illness, and it is unclear if he will play against the Jazz on Sunday.
CJ Elleby (SF)	Ques Sun	Illness - 09 / 04 / 22	0-2	0-2	+ -
Elleby is managing a non-COVID illness, and it remains to be seen if he will take on the Jazz on Sunday.
Drew Eubanks (PF)	Out Sun	Wrist - 09 / 04 / 22	0-2	0-2	+ -
Eubanks is tending to a right wrist sprain, and it will affect his status for Sunday's matchup with the Jazz.
Greg Brown III (SF)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 08 / 04 / 22	0-2	0-2	+ -
Brown III exited the last game with a Grade 1 left ankle sprain, but it is not expected to affect his status for Sunday's tilt versus the Jazz.
Kris Dunn (PG)	Out Sun	Ankle - 08 / 04 / 22	0-2	0-2	+ -
Dunn sat out the previous game due to a sprained right ankle, and he will not be available for Sunday's clash against the Jazz.
Brandon Williams (PG)	Prob Thurs	Quadricep - 05 / 04 / 22	0-4	0-4	+ -
Williams sat out the last game due to a left quad contusion, but it is likely that he will face the Pelicans on Thursday.
Greg Brown III (SF)	Prob Wed	Eye - 27 / 03 / 22	1-8	2-7	+ -
Brown III missed the previous game with a left eye contusion, but it is projected that he will lace up for Wednesday's matchup with the Pelicans.
Trendon Watford (SF)	Mid April	Knee - 27 / 03 / 22	1-8	2-7	+ -
Watford is idle with a bone contusion in his left femur after hyperextending his left knee, and he is not expected to be available until at least the middle of April.
Justise Winslow (SF)	Out indefinitely	Calf - 24 / 03 / 22	2-9	3-8	+ -
Winslow is idle with left calf inflammation, and there is no timetable for return.
Greg Brown III (SF)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 22 / 03 / 22	2-9	3-8	+ -
Brown III is bothered by a sprained left ankle, but it is projected that he will take the court Wednesday versus the Spurs.

L.A. Lakers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Talen Horton-Tucker (SG)	day-to-day	Ankle - 10 / 04 / 22	1-0	0-1	+ -
Horton-Tucker exited Sunday's game with a left ankle sprain, and he will not return.
Dwight Howard (C)	Out Sun	Rest - 10 / 04 / 22	1-0	0-1	+ -
Howard will not take the court for Sunday's contest versus the Nuggets as he will be given a day of rest.
Carmelo Anthony (SF)	Out Sun	Illness - 07 / 04 / 22	2-1	1-2	+ -
Anthony has been absent from the lineup during the past two games with a non-COVID-19 illness, and he will not play Sunday versus the Nuggets.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Out Sun	Foot - 06 / 04 / 22	2-2	2-2	+ -
Davis has been held out of the previous two games with a right mid-foot sprain, and he will not suit up against the Nuggets on Sunday.
Russell Westbrook (PG)	Out Sun	Shoulder - 06 / 04 / 22	2-2	2-2	+ -
Westbrook has missed his second-straight game with a sore right shoulder, and he will not be active against the Nuggets on Sunday.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Tues	Foot - 04 / 04 / 22	2-2	2-2	+ -
Davis is dealing with a right mid-foot sprain, but it is projected that he will line up for Tuesday's clash versus the Suns.
Wenyen Gabriel (SF)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 03 / 04 / 22	2-3	2-3	+ -
Gabriel is tending to a left ankle sprain, but he is projected to partake in Sunday's matchup with the Nuggets.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Sun	Foot - 02 / 04 / 22	3-3	3-3	+ -
Davis is dealing with a right mid-foot sprain, but it is projected that he will line up for Sunday's clash versus the Nuggets.
Carmelo Anthony (SF)	Prob Sun	Illness - 01 / 04 / 22	3-4	4-3	+ -
Anthony missed the previous game with a non-COVID illness, but it is expected that he will suit up Sunday against the Nuggets.
Wenyen Gabriel (SF)	Ques Fri	Ankle - 01 / 04 / 22	3-4	4-3	+ -
Gabriel is dealing with a left ankle sprain, and it is undetermined if he will dress for Friday's matchup with the Pelicans.