The L.A. Lakers play their second game in as many nights on the road at Portland Wednesday, and they'll be a significant underdog in this spot. We can't expect a lot from the Lakers here though, against a Portland team that is well rested. The Blazers sit seven games out of first in the West, while Los Angeles is only 2.5 games ahead of Minnesota, who sit in the Western Conference cellar.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Home Cookin' - The Blazers boast a home record of 22-5, and only three teams in the league have more home wins than Portland (Memphis, Golden State and Atlanta). The Lakers on the other hand have just six road wins all season, and they've covered the spread only once in their last nine games away from Staples Center.

2. Injuries - It's been a brutal season for the Lakers, losing their top draft pick (Julius Randle) to a broken leg in the first game of the season. The future of Steve Nash and Kobe are still uncertain, but most recently they've been without center Jordan Hill and guard Ronny Price. The lack of depth could be an even greater issue when playing on back-to-back nights.

3. X-Factor - LaMarcus Aldrige has decided to postpone surgery to repair an injured thumb, and the Blazers PF hasn't let the ailment slow him down any. He's totaled 49 points in his last two games, and had five consecutive double-doubles prior to Sunday's win over Houston.

Selection: This is a play on the Portland Trailblazers (8*)