The Los Angeles Lakers are facing a critical stretch as the regular season winds down, and their upcoming matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers could prove

The Lakers enter Wednesday night's game against the Hornets, which is the only one on the league schedule as it is a makeup date following the devastating L.A. wildfires, with a record of 32-20. That mark has L.A. sitting in fifth place in the West, just a half game back of the Houston Rockets for the No. 4 seed.

The former championship teammates will find themselves sharing the floor just two weeks after being separated by L.A.'s blockbuster Luka Doncic trade.