Portland @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 30, 2018 ) Portland 104, L.A. Clippers 96

The Los Angeles Clippers will try to snap an ill-timed two-game losing streak against a team that hasn't lost in over a month when they host the red-hot Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday. While the Blazers are enjoying a 12-game winning streak that has helped solidify their playoff chances amid a tight Western Conference race, the Clippers have fallen off the pace with their consecutive losses.

Los Angeles turned it over 23 times in a sloppy 121-113 setback at Oklahoma City on Friday and sit 1 1/2 games out of a playoff spot. "That was pretty much the name of the game for us for why they were able to come away with the victory. We turned it over too many times," forward Tobias Harris, who led the Clippers with 24 points, told the media. "You got to give them credit too. They were able to capitalize off those turnovers." The Blazers' winning streak is tied for the third-longest in franchise history and four shy of the team record. Their 100-87 win over Detroit on Saturday left them two games ahead of Oklahoma City in the race for third place in the East.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBATV, NBCS Northwest (Portland), FS Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (43-26): Damian Lillard shot 6-of-19 from the floor against Detroit but still managed to get to 24 points - the 10th time in the past 11 games he has reached that mark. Jusuf Nurkic had 14 points and 20 rebounds in a 104-96 victory at Los Angeles on Jan. 30. Portland has done much of its damage of late at home and Saturday's win capped a 5-0 stay at the Moda Center, but eight of the next 12 contests take place on the road and two of the four home games in that stretch come against NBA-leading Houston and Eastern Conference contender Boston.

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (37-31): Los Angeles begins a four-game road trip at Minnesota on Tuesday and plays six of seven away from home overall after it is finished with Portland. Austin Rivers added 23 points in the loss to Oklahoma City while Lou Williams had 18 but missed all four of his 3-point tries to sink to 1-for-13 from beyond the arc over a three-game stretch. DeAndre Jordan hauled in 21 rebounds Friday night and has collected at least 18 in six consecutive contests.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Blazers head coach Terry Stotts has 266 wins with the team, tied with Nate McMillan for third on the franchise's all-time list.

2. Harris is averaging 20.6 points on 48.6 percent shooting in 18 games with the Clippers after posting 18.1 on 45.1 percent in 48 games with the Pistons prior to being traded to Los Angeles last month.

3. The road team won each of the first two meetings, with Lillard collecting 28 points in Portland's victory at Los Angeles earlier this season.

PREDICTION: Trail Blazers 106, Clippers 104