PREVIEW: The Portland Trail Blazers visit the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday as Charlotte looks to extend a three-game winning streak. Both teams enter with identical 29-31 records, though Portland sits ninth in the West while Charlotte occupies tenth in the East. Over their last 10 games, the Trail Blazers have posted a 6-4 record while averaging 119.8 points and shooting 47.4 percent from the field. The Hornets have gone 7-3 in their recent stretch, averaging 115.8 points and connecting on 44.8 percent of their shots. Portland faces significant injury concerns heading into this matchup, with Deni Avdija day-to-day with a back injury, Shaedon Sharpe sidelined by a calf issue, and Damian Lillard out for the season. Charlotte's recent success has been highlighted by Kon Knueppel becoming the NBA's all-time leader in rookie three-pointers after his performance against Indiana. The Trail Blazers rank among the league's worst at defensive rebounding, which could prove problematic against a Hornets team that excels on the boards at both ends. Both squads struggle with turnovers, ranking among the league's worst in ball security, creating potential opportunities for disruptive play on either side.