Portland Trail Blazers: Top 5 games to watch in 2018-19

PORTLAND, OR - FEBRUARY 11: Jusuf Nurkic #27 and Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers are seen before the game against the Utah Jazz on February 11, 2018 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1. Oct. 18 vs. Los Angels Lakers (TNT)

It may have been expected, but coming in at No. 1, it’s the Blazers’ season opener at home against one of their most hated rivals, the Los Angels Lakers. The Blazers have won 17 straight home-opening games and will be putting that streak on the line again on Oct. 18.

Even if this game wasn’t the Lakers, it would still be No. 1 on the list because it means that the NBA and Blazers basketball is officially back.

The Lakers come into Portland looking to snap that home-opening streak and ending a losing streak of their own against Portland. They have lost 15 times in a row to the Blazers. Portland fans are always extra loud when the Lakers are in town, and the players feed off of that. This team did not end its season the way it wanted to last season. Rip City needs to come out strong in its first game to prove a point that being the third seed in the West was no fluke.

Lillard always seems to have big games against the Lakers. Last season he hit a tough game-winning 3-point shot over Brandon Ingram in Rip City. He also put the team on his back in another game against L.A last season and scored 19 straight points in the fourth quarter to lead the Blazers to a comeback win.

Oh, and this game also happens to be the first time that the three-time MVP, 14-time All-Star and three-time NBA champion, LeBron James, will be suiting up and playing for the Lakers. Every NBA fan in the world will most likely be tuning into this game to see James wearing the purple and gold uniform.

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This will be nationally televised game on TNT, and it will give Trail Blazers fans and players a chance to show the rest of the NBA what they are going to be about this upcoming season.

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