The Portland Trail Blazers are losers of three straight games, while the hot-and-cold Brooklyn Nets are looking to stay in the win column. Damian Lillard (30 PPG) and Kyrie Irving (31.7 PPG) are averaging 30 or more points per game this season, so they’re sure to take the spotlight.

However, with all the unpredictability of late, don’t be surprised if someone other than the two stars take over.

The slumping Blazers

The Blazers are back at home, but they are as unappealing as ever. They are on the second night of a back-to-back and just lost to the Los Angeles Clippers, 107-101, thanks to yet another collapse that had them surrendering 37 points in the fourth quarter.

Lillard and CJ McCollum tallied identical numbers in the loss, with both scoring 22 points on 9-for-23 shooting. Although it appears to be a decent game from the latter, it’s his fourth-straight night shooting below 40% – he also went scoreless in the final period and missed his four attempts.

McCollum’s struggles may be playing a part in Portland’s tumble down the standings, which is extra frustrating considering Lillard is on a tear and Hassan Whiteside is controlling the paint well. Whiteside is posting 14.7 points and 13 rebounds per game and just muscled his way into the Clippers defense for 17 points and 19 boards.

The erratic Nets

Outside of Kyrie Irving, who’s netting all-star worthy numbers of 31.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.7 assists, and the rising Caris LeVert (19.4 PPG), the 3-4 Nets just can’t establish any rhythm.  It’s a mixture of awful luck when they’re playing great, like the last-second overtime losses to the Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves, and playing terrible against short-handed teams, like the defeats against the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons.

Saturday’s visit to Portland will be the start of a five-game roadtrip and the Nets will be bringing some momentum from their 135-125 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans this past Tuesday. In the win, Irving led the way by scoring 39 points and nine assists, and the team collectively shot a 53.3% and sank 16 three-pointers.

PREDICTION:

Lillard and Irving they mirror each other’s scoring (24.9 PPG) in their career head-to-head, but Lillard leads the series, 6-3.

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The Nets haven’t won on the road this season so the Blazers are a good choice. However, it will also depend on how well the supporting cast will perform.