The Portland Trail Blazers are going into the second half of the season with just 26 games to go on their schedule.
With the playoffs in sight, the Blazers have a chance to reach the postseason for the first time since 2021. NBA.com writer John Schuhmann conducted his weekly power rankings and placed the Blazers at No. 20, one spot higher than his previous installment.
“After a six-game losing streak, the Blazers won four of their last five games before the break. They appear safely within the Play-In group in the West and probably have the opportunity to climb into the top eight,” Schuhmann wrote.
“The Blazers have the league’s easiest remaining schedule in regard to cumulative opponent winning percentage (.452), with only nine of their 26 games coming against teams that currently have winning records. Three of those nine are their first three games out of the break, but they’ll have rest advantages against the Nuggets on Friday and in Phoenix two nights later.”