After failing to deliver a victory during their season home opener, the Los Angeles Lakers will look to get their first win of their 2012-13 season as they hit the road to face the Portland Trail Blazers Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. ET.
The Lakers surprising 99-91 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, who were without Dirk Nowitzki, featured newcomers Dwight Howard and Steve Nash having less than stellar season debuts.
Howard had 19 points and 10 rebounds while missing 11 of 14 free throws before fouling out with 2:02 to play. Nash managed just seven points and four assists with seemingly little to do in the Lakers' new offensive scheme.
Pau Gasol led the Lakers with 23 points and 13 rebounds while Kobe Bryant scored 22 while playing on an injured right foot.
"It's not the way we wanted it to go," Gasol said. "We know it's not going to happen for us right away, but we've just got to stick with it."
The Lakers will face a tough matchup in the Trail Blazers.
Portland went 28-38 last season after averaging 50.7 wins over its previous three seasons when it appeared to be a team on the rise. Coach Nate McMillan was dismissed during last year's campaign and the roster has been overhauled along with a new general manager in Neil Olshey and new coach in Terry Stotts.
All-Star big man LaMarcus Aldridge, forward Nicolas Batum and guard Wesley Matthews are the mainstays with new blood brought in that includes first-round picks Damian Lillard and Meyers Leonard.
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