Chicago @ Portland preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 25, 2019 ) Portland 117, Chicago 94

The Portland Trail Blazers pulled out of a funk by dominating the Bulls on Monday and get the chance to do it again when they host Chicago on Friday. Portland dropped four straight before earning a 117-94 win at the Bulls and followed that with a strong performance in a win over Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

While the win over Chicago marked a return to form on the defensive end, Portland showed off how good it can be on the offensive end by putting up over 40 points in two different quarters and shooting 52.1 percent from the floor in the 136-119 win over the Thunder - marking a season high in points scored. "That was a really good performance, particularly in the first and third quarters," Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts told reporters. "We came out moving the ball, sharing the ball, making shots, on defense we were solid for the most part, so it was good to be home and good to play well." The Bulls began their three-game west coast trip with a 104-90 loss at Golden State on Wednesday and shot 38.2 percent from the floor after shooting 41.9 percent in Monday's setback. Chicago is struggling to get consistent production from anyone other than guard Zach LaVine.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, NBCS Northwest (Portland)

ABOUT THE BULLS (6-13): LaVine averages 21.8 points and scored 36 on 13-of-24 shooting at Golden State but guard Tomas Satoransky (19 points) was the only other player to reach double figures in the loss. Power Forward Lauri Markkanen managed eight points on 3-of-10 shooting and is averaging 7.5 points on 10-of-38 shooting over the last four contests. Chicago could also use some consistency from rookie guard Coby White, who is 3-of-20 from the floor over the last two games after exploding for a season-high 28 points on 12-of-19 from the floor in a 116-115 victory at Charlotte on Saturday.

ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (7-12): A big part of Portland's turnaround over the last two games is the improved play of forward Carmelo Anthony, who followed up a season-high 25 points against the Bulls with 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting Wednesday. "He's had two good games in a row," Stotts told reporters. "I thought he played obviously very efficient, he was able to score on the block, he creates a problem. ... The thing about Melo is that you feel his presence on the court, you know he’s out there, you have to account for him, he gives us a different dimension at the offensive end that we're able to take advantage of." Anthony went 15-of-44 from the floor in his first three games after signing with the team.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Bulls F Chandler Hutchinson left Wednesday's game with a shoulder injury and is day-to-day.

2. Trail Blazers SG Rodney Hood is 21-of-30 from the floor over the last four games.

3. Portland is riding a six-game winning streak in the series.

PREDICTION: Trail Blazers 117, Bulls 106