When to Watch
WARRIORS AT BLAZERS
7 p.m. Tuesday at Rose Garden (CSN cable channel 37)
Key Matchup: Wesley Matthews vs. Monta Ellis
Ellis is the only player in the NBA who’s logged more minutes than LaMarcus Aldridge this year — and for good reason. The shooting guard is averaging 24.2 points per game for a team that’s 33-44 on the year. Without the luxury of a strong supporting cast, the lightning quick Ellis has been asked to carry the bulk of the offensive load for Golden State this year, and even if it has a sub .500 record, defenders never enjoy having to face him.
But this is where Matthews earns his money — locking down star guards on other teams, a challenge he always seems to eagerly await.
To win: Neutralize Ellis and play their game. The Blazers are the better team, and don’t seem to play down to their competition anymore, as recent blowouts over the Cavs and the Wizards suggest. But the Warriors are in a different category — a reasonably high-quality team with nothing to lose, facing a Portland squad that may see this match-up as a breather after a brutal six-game stretch.
BLAZERS AT JAZZ
7:30 p.m. Thursday at EnergySolutions Arena (TNT)
Key match-up: Paul Millsap vs. Gerald Wallace
C.J. Miles may have burned the Blazers earlier in the year when he drained five 3-pointers in the fourth quarter en route to a Utah victory, but at this point in the season, Millsap is the team’s horse. We’ve seen the defensive intensity Wallace brings to the floor every night, and you can expect more of the same from the forward on Thursday as the Blazers continue to make that push toward securing the best seed possible.
To win: Utah is not a playoff threat anymore, and Coach Tyrone Corbin has been giving his younger players more playing time of late. But that doesn’t mean the Jazz don’t have pride, especially when playing on their home floor. Like Golden State, Utah is one of those good teams with absolutely nothing to lose, and if you can’t advance to the postseason, you can certainly get motivated by the prospect of foiling another team’s plans. Salt Lake City is one of the toughest places to play in the league, so if Portland wants this one, it’s going to have to earn it.
LAKERS AT BLAZERS
7 p.m. Friday at Rose Garden (Channel 8)
Key match-up: LaMarcus Aldridge vs. Pau Gasol
It’s not on either of their minds right now, but Aldridge and Gasol could possibly still be battling for a spot on one of the All-NBA teams by season’s end. Gasol enters the game averaging 18.9 points and 10.2 rebounds per game compared to Aldridge’s 22.1 and 8.6. But the Spainiard’s team is surging and may end up with the top seed in the West. But whether it’s Kevin Love, Dirk Nowitzki, Blake Griffin or Gasol, Aldridge seems to have played his best ball this year when facing an All-Star power forward from the Western Conference.
To win: You know both Portland and its fans have been waiting for this one, and have to caution against looking too far ahead. Los Angeles is 3-0 against the Blazers this year, even though Portland led late in the fourth quarter in their last two match-ups. The Blazers have to hold their own in the paint and hope Kobe Bryant doesn’t get too hot. If they can, getting a “W” against the defending champs could be a monumental morale boost.
