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One game after a terrible loss, the Charlotte Hornets try to get back into the win column Tuesday night against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center. The Hornets fell to the Los Angeles Lakers, 107-92, Sunday at Staples Center. That started a four-game western trip for the Hornets, who had won two straight before heading to other coast.
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The Lakers shot 51.2 percent from the floor and scored 16 points off 14 Charlotte turnovers. The Hornets only managed to shoot 44.3 percent and under 22 percent from long range.
"We had good shots and some nights the ball doesn't go in the basket," said Hornets coach Steve Clifford. "And when the ball didn't go in the basket, we stopped defending and stopped rebounding."
Al Jefferson paced the Hornets with 23 points, while Kemba Walker and Marvin Williams scored 17 and 11, respectively. Lance Stephenson pulled down a game- high 10 rebounds.
The Hornets are now 0-3 on the road and visit the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors on the rest of the odyssey.
The Blazers have won three of the last four, including a 116-100 home victory over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.
The win came with a price as Nicolas Batum injured his right knee late in the contest and will miss Tuesday's contest. An MRI after the game revealed no structural damage.
Dorell Wright is expected to start in Batum's absence despite being a DNP-CD against Denver.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 28 points and nine rebounds in the victory. Wesley Matthews added 21 points and six boards for the Blazers, who improved to 4-3 on the young season. Robin Lopez and Chris Kaman each tallied 12 points.
"It was a good win," Matthews said. "I think we did a good job, especially in the second half."
Damian Lillard and Batum had 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the Blazers, who went 16-of-31 from beyond the arc.
The Hornets are 1-4 in their last five against the Blazers and the record is worse in Portland. Charlotte has dropped six straight in Rose City and seven of its last eight.
[SportsNetwork.com]
