Los Angeles Lakers vs Portland Trail Blazers Picks and Predictions January 2nd 2025

Lakers Look for Second Win Over Blazers This Season

The Los Angeles Lakers are set to host the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, aiming to bounce back after a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers and secure their second victory over Portland this season.

Lakers’ Evolving Dynamics

The Lakers debuted a revamped roster on Tuesday, following the trade of D’Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets and the elevation of Austin Reaves to a more prominent role. Despite a 122-110 loss to the league-leading Cavaliers, there were promising signs of cohesion.

Reaves embraced his expanded responsibilities, delivering an impressive 35 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds. Anthony Davis contributed 28 points and 13 rebounds, while LeBron James, fresh off his 40th birthday, added 23 points. However, the Lakers struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 25.7 percent (9 of 35) of their 3-point attempts.

Dorian Finney-Smith, making his Lakers debut after being acquired from Brooklyn, had a quiet performance with just two points, two rebounds, and two assists in 20 minutes. Despite the loss, Davis remained optimistic: “We just missed a ton of shots, wide-open looks that we missed. … I think we could definitely be better on both ends of the floor, but I’m not disappointed where we are right now.”

Trail Blazers’ Struggles

Portland enters the matchup after a 125-103 home loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, a setback that ended their brief two-game winning streak. Anfernee Simons led the Blazers with 25 points, and Deni Avdija added 17, but turnovers and poor shooting derailed the team. Portland hit just 22.2 percent (8 of 36) from 3-point range and committed a season-high 26 turnovers, leading to 36 points for the 76ers.

Avdija, starting in place of the injured Jerami Grant (face contusion), had a tough outing with 10 turnovers. He took full responsibility, stating, “I’ve never had that amount. The ball was not in my hands very good today.”

Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, who returned after attending his grandmother’s funeral, acknowledged the team’s struggles: “It’s one of those games that when you have all those things working against you at one time, you usually have a scary night.”

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Injury Updates

• Lakers: The team is still adjusting to their lineup changes, with Finney-Smith integrating into the rotation.
• Blazers: Jerami Grant’s status remains uncertain, while Robert Williams III returned to action against Philadelphia. Dalano Banton (hip) missed his third straight game and is questionable.

First Meeting Recap

The Lakers defeated the Blazers 107-98 on Dec. 8 in Los Angeles, despite missing LeBron James due to foot soreness. Rui Hachimura stepped up in James’ absence, scoring a season-high 23 points. Portland will look to even the season series and build momentum, while the Lakers aim to solidify their chemistry and keep climbing in the Western Conference standings.

With both teams needing to improve their consistency, Thursday’s clash presents an opportunity to set a positive tone heading into the new year.