Portland Trail Blazers Team Report - February 1

(Basketball News) - The Portland Trail Blazers play the Los Angeles Lakers for the first time this season, as the teams square off on Tuesday at the Staples Center.

The teams are scheduled to play two more times this season, as the Blazers will host the Lakers on February 23rd and April 20th at the Rose Garden. LA has won two of the last three contests in this series, while Portland has won three of the last five meetings. The Trail Blazers have lost 11 of their last 14 at the Lakers.

Portland plays its first game on the road since January 18th. The Blazers are in the midst of a stretch that has them playing nine of 10 at the Rose Garden. On Friday, Damon Stoudamire scored 18 of his 22 points in the second-half as Portland rallied for a 90-86 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in front of its home crowd.

Ruben Patterson scored 17 points and Zach Randolph and Joel Przybilla each recorded double-doubles in Friday’s win for the Blazers, who trailed by as many as 12 points in the third quarter. Randolph finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Przybilla had 10 points and pulled down a game-high 14 boards.

On the injury front, Guard Derek Anderson (tooth ache) is questionable for tonight’s game. Forward Darius Miles (suspension) is eligible to return on Wednesday against Denver.

The Blazers are just 7-16 as the visitor this season. Portland has lost four straight and seven of its last eight on the road.

Stoudamire has been on fire lately. The point guard has scored more than 20 points in six straight games and is averaging 23 points, 4.8 rebounds and 6.7 assists in that span. He has scored in double-digits in 13 straight contests.

After Tuesday’s contest, Portland, which comes into the game after going 2-3 on a five-game homestand, returns home and is scheduled to host the Denver Nuggets, Charlotte Bobcats, Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Hornets.