Cooper Albers takes you through his preview, prediction and pick for Monday’s matchup between the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Lakers.

Rounding out Monday night’s NBA slate is a Western Conference showdown between the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena.

Despite Luka Doncic joining LeBron James on the sidelines, the Lakers battled past the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night to secure their second straight win after falling flat in the season opener. The youthful Trail Blazers, meanwhile, look to rebound from a Sunday night loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. 

Tipoff is set for 10:30 p.m. ET. Portland holds -155 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook, with Los Angeles listed as a +130 underdog. The total is set at 227.5 points.

Trail Blazers vs. Lakers Preview

There’s a lot to like about the Trail Blazers (1-2), who have burnished their burgeoning young core with high-impact veteran leadership. That lineup harmony was on full display in the team’s 20-point victory over the Golden State Warriors, when Deni Avdija poured in 26 points with four threes, Donovan Clingan grabbed eight rebounds, and Jrue Holiday dished out 11 assists. 

While their offense has hovered around league average through the first few games of the season, the Trail Blazers have flexed their strength on the other end. Portland owns the third-best defensive rating in the Western Conference (110.0) and leads the NBA in steals per game (11.7).

The Lakers (2-1), already playing without LeBron James due to sciatica, lost their second star when Luka Doncic suffered a finger sprain in the team’s 128-110 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. Fortunately, they boast one of the top third options in the league.

Stepping into the role of primary ballhandler, Austin Reaves erupted for a career-high 51 points (12-for-22 FG, 6-for-10 3PT) to go along with 11 rebounds and nine assists, lifting the Lakers past the Kings on Sunday night. His offensive explosion was complemented by steady contributions from Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton, the latter piling up 22 points and 15 rebounds.

Los Angeles owns the third-best offensive rating in the NBA (120.5) while shooting a league-best 54.1% from the field. Though they’ve been cold from beyond the arc (32.6%), the Lakers continue to find ways to score, converting the third-most free throws per game (28).

Trail Blazers vs. Lakers Pick, Best Bet

While their defense remains a question mark, the Lakers’ offense is firing on all cylinders — and it might be wise to ride the hot hand. Coming off a Reaves masterclass, look for Los Angeles to keep its momentum rolling at home on Monday night.

Best Bet: Los Angeles Lakers Moneyline (+130)