Blazers VS Lakers Preview – 11/6

The Portland Trail Blazers will face off against the Los Angles Lakers for the first time this season on the 2nd of a back to back.

WHEN:

November 6th, 2021, Saturday, 7:30 PM (PDT)

WHERE:

Moda Center, Portland Oregon

TV:

Root TV, NBA TV

RADIO:

Sports Radio 620

2020-21 SEASON SERIES

Blazers won the 2020-21 season series 2-1

TRAIL BLAZERS

The Blazers have had a tough time on the road, but are 4-1 at home this season. The Bench continues to impress while the starters are still looking to figure things out. There are no injuries for Portland.

DAMIAN LILLARD

Lillard continued his slump against the Indiana Pacers finishing with only 4 points, on 2-13 shooting from the field and 0-6 from deep. He is only shooting 21% from three on the season. Perhaps going up against nemisis Russell Westbrook will awaken his game.

LARRY NANCE JR / BEN MCLEMORE

Both Nance and McLemore played for the Lakers in the past. Nance was drafted by the Lakers in 2015 with the 27th pick. He played with the Lakers for three seasons.

McLemore played with the Lakers last season.

ANFERNEE SIMONS

Simons has been the difference maker off the bench. He is putting in the work early to make him a candidate for both 6th man and most improved player. He has gone from 8 points a game last season to 14 points a game this season. Look for him to continue his warring path against the Lakers.

STARTING LINEUP

PG – Damian Lillard | SG – CJ McCollum | SF – Norman Powell | PF – Robert Covington | C – Jusuf Nurkic

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

The Lakers have worked their way back from a rough start and stand at 5-4. 5 of their past 6 games though have been against the Thunder, Rockets, and Cavaliers. They have been embarrassed twice by OKC.

Lebron James is out with an abdominal strain. Trevor Ariza is out with a sprained ankle. Kendrick Nunn is out with a knee injury. Talen Horton – Tucker is out with a thumb injury. Anthony Davis is questionable with a thumb injury. Dwight Howard is probable with a neck strain.

Health was a big question coming into the season for the Lakers. It is already materializing. Can they overcome it?

CARMELO ANTHONY:

Carmelo Anthony will play against the Blazers for the first time since leaving in free agency this past off-season. The Blazers failed to call him, even to say they were not resigning him. Anthony is averaging 17 pts a game up from the 14 he averaged against the Blazers, and shooting 52% from three, the best in his career.

KENT BAZEMORE/TREVOR ARIZA

Both Bazemore and Ariza played for Portland during the 2019-20. Bazemore was actually traded by Portland to Sacramento as part of the deal to acquire Ariza.

Bazemore has started in 9 games for the Lakers, mostly in the backcourt with Russel Westbrook. He has been starting at SF to replace the injured lebron James. He is a weaving 6.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game.

Trevor Ariza has been out with a right ankle I jury and has yet to play for the Lakers this season.

STARTING LINEUP

PG – Russel Westbrook | SG – Avery Bradley | SF – Kent Bazemore | PF – Anthony Davis | C – DeAndre Jordan