Orlando @ Portland preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 28, 2018 ) Orlando 112, Portland 115

The Portland Trail Blazers, who came in with high expectations after making the 2018-19 Western Conference finals, look to continue digging out of an early season hole when they host the Orlando Magic on Friday night. The Trail Blazers began the season 5-12 and have won seven of 11 since following a 122-112 victory over Golden State on Wednesday that evened their home-court record (6-6).

“We were able to weather the storm by just doing the things we needed to do,” Portland guard Damian Lillard told reporters after pouring in 31 points versus the Warriors. “I think defensively, we just tightened up when we needed to tighten up. Offensively, we tighten up when we needed to tighten up. Especially down the stretch, when the game was really on the line, we did all the things necessary to win.” The Trail Blazers, who are in the middle of a stretch in which they play six of seven at home, take a five-game winning streak into the season series opener with the Magic. Orlando had similar expectations to start the season after reaching the playoffs for the first time in seven years in 2018-19, but things have not gone smoothly and the Magic dropped five of their last six after suffering a 113-104 setback at Denver on Wednesday despite leading by 15 at halftime. “I think our offense started dictating how we played on defense,” Orlando forward Aaron Gordon told reporters of the third quarter in which the Magic were outscored 39-16 by the Nuggets. “. … We missed a couple wide-open shots and then we stopped getting back on defense all the time.”

TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Orlando), NBCS Northwest (Portland)

ABOUT THE MAGIC (12-16): All-Star center Nikola Vucevic is averaging 17.3 points and nine rebounds in three games since returning from an ankle injury after scoring a team-high 20 on 7-of-16 from the field against Denver. Shooting guard Evan Fournier leads the team in scoring (19.8) after finishing with 13 points on Wednesday - his lowest total in 17 games - and Gordon averages 13.3 points, but is 10-of-36 from the field the past three contests. Jonathan Isaac (12.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, team-high 2.6 blocks) was limited to 17 minutes Wednesday by hamstring and lower-back tightness, and the versatile forward is questionable for the finale of a four-game trip.

ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (12-16): CJ McCollum is averaging 30 points and Lillard 29 over the last two games while veteran Carmelo Anthony has continued to blend in, scoring 19 per contest over the past four. “I’m just playing off of those guys, (Lillard and McCollum),” Anthony told reporters. “They are going to do what they do. I just take advantage of what’s left and the opportunities that are out there. That’s all I’ve been doing.” Center Hassan Whiteside boasts double-doubles in 12 consecutive games after hauling in 23 rebounds in Wednesday’s victory and is averaging 18.4 points and 14 rebounds in eight December contests.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Orlando PG D.J. Augustin is 7-for-11 from 3-point range and 18-for-18 from the free-throw line the last three games.

2. Portland PF Skal Labissiere had 10 points in Wednesday’s victory, reaching double figures for the first time in 10 games.

3. The Magic entered Thursday 29th in the league in scoring (103.5) and 27th in field goal percentage (43.4).

PREDICTION: Magic 112, Trail Blazers 110