Our ratings lean toward the Trail Blazers at home against the Lakers on Tuesday, March 16, at about 59%. That is a real edge, but the Lakers are far from out of it.
How the Win Meter reads
The Win Meter reads the Trail Blazers 59%, with a projected score of Los Angeles Lakers 113, Portland Trail Blazers 116. The rating gap is 39 points in favor of the Lakers, and home court and rest add about 99 rating points for the Trail Blazers on top of that.
Readings in this range leave plenty of room for the other side. About 41 times in 100 games like this, the Lakers would win.
Recent form
The Lakers are 3-0 this season and 3-2 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of +2.2. The Trail Blazers are 2-0 this season and 2-3 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -0.6.
The Lakers' best recent win was 127-105 at home against GSW.
The Lakers were beaten 131-108 at home by OKC not long ago.
The Trail Blazers' best recent win was 124-83 at home against PHX.
The Trail Blazers were beaten 114-93 at home by SAS not long ago.
Injuries to watch
Out: Cameron Carr (LAL), expected back Oct 27, 2026, Adou Thiero (LAL), expected back Oct 28, 2026, Shaedon Sharpe (POR), expected back Mar 2, 2027, Chris Youngblood (POR), expected back Oct 29, 2026, and Jayson Kent (POR).
Day to day or questionable: Walker Kessler (LAL), Branden Carlson (POR), and Scoot Henderson (POR). Their status can change before tip-off.
The season series
In our records of recent meetings, the Lakers lead 4-3, with the Trail Blazers outscoring the Lakers by an average of 3.6 points per game. The last meeting was LAL 116, POR 132.