Los Angeles Clippers (49-26) at Portland Trail Blazers (48-25), 10 p.m. (ET)
(SportsNetwork.com) - Playoff positioning in the Western Conference is at stake when the Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers tangle Wednesday night at the Moda Center.
The Northwest Division-leading Blazers are percentage points ahead of the Clippers for the fourth seed in the West and only two games out of the No. 2 spot. The Clippers are also two games behind Memphis for the second seed.
Both Portland and Los Angeles are a half-game ahead of San Antonio.
The Trail Blazers have won four in a row following a five-game slide and will shoot for a perfect ending to a three-game homestand Wednesday night. In Monday's 109-86 victory over the Phoenix Suns, Damian Lillard had 19 points and seven assists to help Portland clinch a postseason berth.
"It was a good way to clinch a playoff spot," Portland coach Terry Stotts said. "Third quarter was terrific."
LaMarcus Aldridge posted 17 points and seven rebounds, while Nicolas Batum and Arron Afflalo netted 16 points apiece for Portland.
Portland is 30-7 in Rip City this season and will visit the Los Angeles Lakers Friday night. Its magic number to clinch the Northwest was reduced to three.
Los Angeles looks to bounce back from Tuesday's 110-106 loss to the despised Golden State Warriors.
The Clippers had a seven-game winning streak come to an end at Staples Center, as Blake Griffin poured in 40 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Chris Paul registered 27 points and handed out nine assists, while DeAndre Jordan grabbed 15 boards to go along with five points.
"We changed in the second quarter," said Clippers coach Doc Rivers. "We lost our way offensively. We attacked the first quarter and a half, then everything changed."
Rivers' squad will start a three-game road trip Wednesday against Portland, Denver and the Lakers, and has a 22-15 record as the visitor. The Clippers have won four in a row on the road.
Los Angeles is 2-1 against Portland this season and has won eight of the last 12 games in this series.