The Portland Trail Blazers are in a rough stretch, but could there by a small sliver of light peeking out from behind the door to 2022? As of this writing Thursday night, Ben McLemore and Dennis Smith Jr. look like they might return, while the return of other rotation players seems like it might not be too far in the distance. Losers of three in a row and 13 of their last 16, the Blazers would like nothing more than to slam the door shut on 2021 with a win.
The Los Angeles Lakers are in a rough patch as well, losing six of their last seven, the lone win coming against the lowly Houston Rockets.