Portland @ Oklahoma City preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 27, 2019 ) Oklahoma City 0, Portland 0

The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in all four meetings last season. Of course, the cast will be dramatically different when the Thunder host Portland on Wednesday in the first of this season's three meetings.

Oklahoma City averaged 120.8 points against the Trail Blazers last season when the now-departed Russell Westbrook and Paul George were members of the team. Portland guard Damian Lillard certainly wasn't at fault for the lack of Trail Blazers' wins as he averaged 34.8 points, including a 51-point outing last March 7. Portland is 2-1 on a four-game road trip that began with wins in Sacramento and Dallas before Monday's 113-110 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. The Thunder lost 116-112 to the Houston Rockets - Westbrook's new team - on Monday and now begin a stretch in which five of six games are at home.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS Northwest (Portland), FS Oklahoma

ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (2-2): Lillard scored 28 points in the loss to the Spurs, including 18 in the fourth quarter, but his outing ended with disappointment as his tying 3-point attempt as time expired went in-and-out of the basket. "It's my job to be aggressive, to be in attack mode and tonight, just missed a lot of shots," Lillard said after the loss. "I think when you're missing shots, things aren't going your way, I'm not gonna shy away because of that or try to go away and say 'oh, it's just not my night.' I'm gonna empty it. I'm going to go out swinging." Shooting guard CJ McCollum added 27 points and is averaging 31 over the past two games.

ABOUT THE THUNDER (1-3): Guard Dennis Schroder has a bigger role this season and he has scored 22 points in back-to-back games, knocking down 17-of-26 shots during the span after being just 5-of-22 over the first two games. Veteran point guard Chris Paul is impressed by the consecutive stellar performances and is pleased to no longer be an opponent of the 26-year-old. “I love Dennis. I always hated playing against Dennis because Dennis is one of the few guards in our league who still picks up full court," Paul told reporters. "That’s a pest. I can get by guys, but Dennis is a whole other speed, so it’s having that dimension. We’ll keep getting used to playing with one another.”

BUZZER BEATERS

1. McCollum averaged 19.8 points against the Thunder last season but shot just 35.4 percent from the field.

2. Oklahoma City C Steven Adams (bruised knee) departed Monday's contest and will be re-evaluated.

3. Portland PF Zach Collins (dislocated shoulder) underwent an MRI exam on Monday as the team seeks an answer on long the 7-footer will be sidelined.

PREDICTION: Trail Blazers 117, Thunder 111