Lakers' shooting meets a Trail Blazers team that gives it away

The Portland Trail Blazers (42-40 last season) visit the Los Angeles Lakers (53-29) on Tuesday, October 27 at 11:00 PM ET, in a game that pits Portland's offensive rebounding against Los Angeles' shooting.

Los Angeles ranked second in the league in effective field goal percentage last season at 57.3 and got to the line more than any other team. Portland's defense ranked 13th in opponent effective shooting (54.1) and 19th in free throw rate allowed.

Portland's counter is the glass. The Trail Blazers grabbed 31.3% of their misses, second in the league, while Los Angeles ranked 22nd in offensive rebounding and 13th on the defensive boards.

Portland also turned the ball over on 14% of its trips, the worst rate in the league. The Lakers forced turnovers at the 11th-best rate.

Luka Doncic averaged 33.5 points and 8.3 assists last season and is the player Portland has to contain. Deni Avdija led the Trail Blazers with 24.2 points a game. Donovan Clingan added 11.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks, and Ja Morant averaged 8.1 assists in 20 games.

Portland is without Shaedon Sharpe, who led the team in steals at 1.4 a game, and three more Trail Blazers are out. Scoot Henderson and Branden Carlson are questionable. For the Lakers, Cameron Carr and Adou Thiero are out.

Portland beat Phoenix 124-83 and won 128-120 at Sacramento. The Lakers have won three in a row, including a 127-105 win over Golden State.

Sportsbook prices give the Lakers a 55% chance to win. Keel's projection, built from the players available, puts it at 57%.