Oklahoma City @ Portland preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 9, 2018 ) Portland 117, Oklahoma City 106

The Portland Trail Blazers seek to extend their season-best winning streak to six consecutive games when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday. The run that has seen the Trail Blazers reach a season-best 10 games over .500 has placed the team in the midst of the battle for third place in Western Conference.

Portland has won both meetings with the Thunder this season and one of the victories occurred with All-Star point guard Damian Lillard sidelined with a calf injury. Oklahoma City, like the Trail Blazers, is among the five teams battling for third in the tightly packed West, which has led to Lillard calling every game "huge" the rest of the season. "The race is so tight, every one matters," Lillard told reporters. "And if you can knock off a team that is right there in the mix where you are, it's even better. And a division opponent - it's a big game." The Thunder have won three straight games and five of their last six after dispatching the Phoenix Suns 124-116 on Friday behind a big outing from All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook (43 points, 14 rebounds, eight assists).

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

ABOUT THE THUNDER (37-27): Westbrook has a friendly rivalry with Lillard and he tuned up for Saturday's meeting by hitting 16-of-25 shots in the strong effort against the Suns. "Games are needed for us and this is a big road trip for us," Westbrook said after the Thunder improved to 2-0 on a three-game excursion that began in Dallas. "I was in attack mode and just letting the game come to me." All-Star small forward Paul George added 20 points against Phoenix and has reached at least 20 in four of the past five games, the exception being a horrific performance against the Golden State Warriors on Feb. 24 when he had five points on 1-of-14 shooting.

ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (36-26): Lillard averaged 31.4 points in February - the highest in any month in franchise history - and continued his strong play by scoring 35 points in Thursday's 108-99 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Lillard has scored 35 or more points in five of the past seven games, including outings of 50, 44 and 40, and is averaging 36.9 during the stretch. Portland made six 3-pointers in the final quarter and nine in the second half against Minnesota after missing all 13 3-point attempts in the first half.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Trail Blazers have won the past four meetings.

2. Oklahoma City PF Carmelo Anthony is 21-of-64 shooting over the past four games.

3. Portland F Maurice Harkless (left patella tendon) is questionable after leaving Thursday's contest.

PREDICTION: Trail Blazers 122, Thunder 116