Lakers vs. Trail Blazers Wednesday NBA injury report, spread, odds: LeBron James, Russell Westbrook (trade possibility?) may sit

While the Los Angeles Lakers could use every win they could get in the Western Conference playoff race with a 26-29 record, they might sit both LeBron James and Russell Westbrook tonight in the second of a back-to-back at Portland – perhaps L.A. thinking it can beat the extremely short-handed Blazers without those two. The Lakers were 9.5-point favorites at Caesars Sportsbook but that would drop a handful of points with no LeBron (not such much Westbrook). Click here for model picks. 

Los Angeles was embarrassed at home by the defending NBA champion Bucks on Tuesday, 131-116. James did his part with 27 points, eight assists and five rebounds, but the Lakers were minus-25 with him on the court. Westbrook, who has played more minutes than anyone in the NBA this season, had 10 points, 10 rebounds and five assists but was minus-5.  Lakers coach Frank Vogel, for the second game in a row and third time this season, pulled Westbrook down the stretch.

"It tells me we ain't on their level," LeBron said when asked whether the loss revealed anything about where the Lakers were at. "I mean, I could have told you that before the game."

Tuesday was just the 18th time that James, Anthony Davis and Westbrook all played together. Los Angeles is 10-8 in those games but mostly beating bad teams.

LeBron is being listed questionable with a knee injury and Westbrook a back injury. I'm not here doubting those injuries, but rumors are flying the Lakers want to deal Westbrook by Thursday's Trade Deadline so it may be smart to hold him out and avoid injury. Carmelo Anthony is out injured. Davis will play.

Portland has gutted its roster of late with trades of Norman Powell and Robert Covington to the Clippers, and sending CJ McCollum, Larry Nance Jr. and Tony Snell to New Orleans. Eric Bledsoe, one of the pieces back from LA, is not ready to debut tonight with an injury. It's not clear as of this writing if Josh Hart, part of the package back from New Orleans, will debut, but he's not listed on the injury report so he might. 

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