Portland @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 23, 2017 ) Portland 95, L.A. Lakers 92

The Los Angeles Lakers aren't in playoff contention, but they're still becoming a dangerous team. The Lakers will try to throw some chaos into the Western Conference postseason race and pick up their sixth consecutive victory when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday.

Los Angeles just finished sweeping a four-game road trip and overcame a 17-point, second-half deficit in a 116-112 triumph at the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday. "It shows we're growing," Lakers rookie point guard Lonzo Ball told reporters. "At the beginning of the year we might have just gave up, take the L and go home. Be happy with a 3-1 trip. We're growing up. We know we can win every game we're in." The Trail Blazers believe they can win every game they're in as well and are proving themselves right during a six-game winning streak that catapulted the team into the No. 3 spot in the West. "The fans are really into it," Portland All-Star point guard Damian Lillard told reporters after finishing up a three-game homestand with a 108-100 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday. "And I think we're just controlling games with our consistency right now."

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBATV, NBCS Northwest (Portland), Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (37-26): Portland continues to get solid production from the backcourt duo of Lillard and CJ McCollum, who combined for 48 points on Saturday, but contributions from further down the roster are fueling the winning streak. Reserve power forward Ed Davis hauled in double-digit rebounds in each of the last three games and rookie center Zach Collins scored 12 points off the bench on Saturday to reach double figures for the first time since Dec. 23, when he scored 11 at the Lakers. "Defensively we got enough stops when we needed them," McCollum told reporters. "A lot of guys stepped up and contributed. Zach (Collins) was great. (Ed Davis) was great as always. (Shabazz Napier) contributed. (Evan Turner) stepped up and hit some big shots and defended all night."

ABOUT THE LAKERS (28-34): Ball drew plenty of criticism for his shooting percentage early in the season and was still shooting just 35.6 percent from the floor and 30.3 percent from 3-point range when he went down with a hamstring injury on Jan. 13. Ball has been a different player since returning to the lineup after the All-Star break and is shooting 55.2 percent from the floor while going 14-of-22 from beyond the arc over his last four contests. "He went from hitting the side of the backboard to he can't miss now," power forward Julius Randle told reporters of Ball. "He's just confident out there, making plays, making huge, huge shots down the stretch for us."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Randle is 21-of-23 from the free-throw line in the last three games after going 0-of-6 in the previous two.

2. Trail Blazers SF Maurice Harkless (knee) sat out Saturday and is day-to-day.

3. Portland is enjoying a 14-game winning streak against the Lakers, including eight straight at Los Angeles.

PREDICTION: Trail Blazers 116, Lakers 108