Portland Must Win To Keep NBA Cup Dreams Alive

The Portland Trail Blazers are coming off a mini-sweep of the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday and Wednesday. Portland is 8-3 but fifth in the stacked Western Conference.

Tonight, the Blazers play their second NBA Cup game of the season on the road against the Sacramento Kings.

Last Friday, in their first NBA Cup game on Nov. 6, Portland suffered a tough loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Luka Doncic went off for 53 points.

The Blazers are placed in West Group C with Golden State, San Antonio, the Lakers and Sacramento.

Golden State and San Antonio are 1-0 heading into tonight. They face each other in San Antonio. Without Stephen Curry, the Spurs come in as double-digit favorites. 

Los Angeles comes in at third at 1-1, with a day off. After falling to Golden State on Oct. 30, they evened their Cup record against Portland.

Sacramento lost to the Spurs in their first Cup game. The Kings are also second-to-last in the Western Conference, sitting at 1-10 this season.

Portland defeated the Thunder on Wednesday, Nov. 11, behind Deni Avdija's 28 points. Jrue Holiday added 19 points, three rebounds, five assists and two steals off the bench. 

A win tonight puts Portland in a good spot for the remainder of the NBA Cup. After taking a week off from group play next week, Portland hosts the Spurs on Wednesday, Nov. 25. Last time the Blazers faced San Antonio, they got beat up and lost by 22. 

They host the Warriors at home on Friday, Nov. 27. Curry has been diagnosed with an oblique abdominal tear and will miss between two and four weeks.

The earliest Curry can come back is around the 27th. If Curry is unable to suit up, the Blazers' odds of winning will be high. 

Portland and coach Micah Nori will take it one game at a time. With the top half of the West playing elite basketball so far this season, anything can happen.

Tonight's game kicks off a six-game East Coast road trip. They play in Minnesota twice next week, then travel to Milwaukee, New York and Philadelphia.

After an exciting week for Blazers fans, they won't be able to see their team play at Moda Center until the third NBA Cup game against the Spurs. If the Blazers stay hot, it will be one of the most anticipated games thus far.

Tipoff tonight is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET.