Blazers Look to Sharpen Morant-Lillard Backcourt Against London in Preseason Tilt

Portland's new-look guard pairing gets another preseason test against a London Lions team with a thin frontcourt.

LON @ POR Oct 12, 2026 at 8:00 PM UTC

The Portland Trail Blazers host the London Lions on Monday, Oct. 12, at 4:00 PM ET at the Moda Center. It is a preseason game, so the results matter less than the answers Portland can find about its new-look rotation.

The central storyline is the backcourt. In a 123-118 preseason-opening win over Golden State, Portland started Ja Morant, Damian Lillard, Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan, and each played around 20 minutes. Lillard, back from a torn Achilles that cost him all of 2025-26, scored 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting with two steals in 19 minutes. Morant, making his Portland debut after the June trade, had eight points and five assists but shot 3-of-8 and committed four turnovers. Cleaning up those giveaways is the obvious next step.

The fit also raises a defensive question. Coach Micah Nori has doubts about starting two undersized guards who have never been elite defenders, and he views Jrue Holiday as the more logical partner for either one. Watch whether Portland tweaks the starting group or alters how it covers the perimeter. Either choice is useful information at this point in the calendar.

London, coached by Tautvydas Sabonis, lists Ethan Price (6'10", 230 lbs) as its only center. That is a real concern against Clingan and a Portland group with more size and depth up front. If the Blazers attack inside and keep the turnovers down, they should control the paint and the pace.

Prediction: Portland's size and the continued work around Lillard and Morant carry the Blazers to a comfortable preseason win, 121-107.

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