Thanks to improved play with with a little help from so-so competition, the Trail Blazers have managed to pull themselves out of the bottom of the Western Conference standings after a rough start to the 2019-20 season. But they'll face arguably their toughest test of the year thus far when they host the Los Angeles Lakers Friday night at the Moda Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
SERIES NOTES
ALL TIME: Lakers Lead, 120-107
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 70-43
AT THE LAKERS: Lakers lead, 77-37
LAST PORTLAND WIN: 104-101, 4/9/19 (Los Angeles)
LAST LAKERS WIN: 126-117, 11/14/18 (Los Angeles)
CURRENT WIN STREAK: One (Portland)
GAME NOTES
• Friday’s game will be the first of three meetings between the Trail Blazers and the Lakers during the 2019-20 season.