SCOUTING REPORT
HighTops is out of service.
Portland remains locked in a battle with San Antonio and Oklahoma City at the bottom end of the playoff picture. The Blazers are currently one game behind the Thunder for the No. 6 seed and a half-game behind the Spurs for No. 7. Portland lost big in Denver Thursday after a Wednesday home demolition of the Knicks. The Blazers have played five games in the past 12 days; the Kings have played six over the same span, but have been off since Wednesday.
Portland plays at the league's slowest pace, with just 87.7 possessions per game on average. It's an offensive-minded squad, though, with the NBA's No. 5 offense and No. 15 defense. Portland qualifies as elite in protecting the ball, offensive rebounding and drawing fouls. On defense, rebounding is the team's strength.
The Blazers are 3-0 against the Kings this season, with a +10/game scoring margin. The other game at ARCO Arena between the teams came Dec. 15, with the Blazers winning 95-88. Credit Jerryd Bayless with that one -- he scored 14 points on six FGAs and 10 FTAs off the bench.
KEY BATTLE
Tyreke Evans vs. Brandon Roy. Evans has done alright against Portland this season; he's averaged 15.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 38 minutes a game on .524 True Shooting. Roy, though, has torched the Kings: 24/5/5.7 in 39 minutes on .623 TS. If Roy has that kind of success against Sacramento's best player and Evans can't match, it'll be a loooooong night for the Kings.
BOLD PROCLAMATION
You aren't that handsome, Juwan. Handsome, but not that handsome.
BOLD BROCKLAMATION
"Toronto, you are next!"
DETAILS
7 PM PT start. Game threads at 7 and 8:15, a post-gamer at 9:45.