The Lakers travel to the Rose Garden to play the Portland Trail Blazers in a game that could mean the Lakers clinching the second seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

The Blazer have had the Lakers' number over the years when playing Portland, so this should be a big test for the purple and gold.

Los Angeles is riding a three-game losing streak, and not looking very good in the process.

The defending champions have shot just 41.2 percent during their three-game skid and have converted only 22.8 percent of their three-point shots.

The Lakers are also turning the ball over more than usual, averaging 18.7 turnovers during the losing streak.

Los Angeles could use better performances from their point guards Derek Fisher and Steve Blake, but also their starting small forward, Ron Artest. He's averaging only 5.8 points per game and shooting just 27.6 percent from the field in four games this month.

On the other side of the ball, the Blazers are still injury-plauged. Center Marcus Camby has a strained neck, and missed last night's Blazers' victory over the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City.

But the Blazers have won three out of four games. Portland is looking to avoid falling to the eight spot in the Western Conference seeding, and are currently in the sixth spot.

The Blazers have improved since the trade deadline when they acquired Gerald Wallace. The swing man is shooting better than 50 percent with Portland.

Despite the losing streak, the Lakers continue to get strong performances from Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Andrew Bynum.

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