Wizards struggling on the road

Washington defeated the Blazers earlier in the season and could hold the advantage tonight, as the road team in this series has won five of the last seven meetings. The Wiz are also 6-3 in their last nine visits to the Rose Garden.

Washington kicked off its swing in disappointing fashion on Friday, as it was defeated 97-91 by Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center.

Gilbert Arenas scored 29 points and Caron Butler contributed 20 points for the Wizards, who have lost four of their last five games. Arenas had missed the Wizards last game with a back injury.

Antawn Jamison scored 12 points and Brendan Haywood added 10 in the loss.

To make matters worse forward Jarvis Hayes was forced to leave the game with a knee injury. Hayes, who missed the second half of last season and the Wizards’ playoff run with a fractured right patella, has since returned to Washington for a further examination and will likely miss the remainder of the trip.

Hayes has appeared in all 21 games, with 13 starts, and is averaging 9.3 points and 3.6 rebounds.

The Wizards, who will also visit Seattle, Denver and Phoenix on the trek, are just 3-8 away from home this season.