D'Angelo Russell engaged Damian Lillard in a war of words and had to be separated. Lillard had shot 3 of 14 from the field and the Portland Trail Blazers held just a one-point lead over the Los Angeles Lakers. Lillard responded by scoring 13 points, including 11 in a row.

"[Russell] poked the bear and you seen what happened the rest of the game," Lillard said.

Lillard said that confrontation with Russell "absolutely" ignited his strong play.

"As far as that situation, since last game, he's been doing little slick elbows," Lillard said of Russell. "And I play the game clean. I'm from Oakland. I ain't with that extra stuff and nobody can just do what they want to me.

"I got called for a foul to start the third quarter for reaching in, but when I reached in the only reason there was contact is because his elbow came up again. After he blocked my shot, I was walking to my spot, and I felt like he went out of his way to get that elbow in there again. And I told him, 'That ain't gonna fly.' And I wasn't interested in anything else that was said after that. We ain't going to do it on the court so we'll be in the back and whatever happens, happens."

The Cleveland Cavaliers are trading their 2017 first round pick to the Portland Trail Blazers in order to get their previously traded 2018 first round pick back.

The Cavaliers will then trade their 2019 first round pick to the Atlanta Hawks as part of the Kyle Korver deal.

Cleveland traded their 2017 first rounder to Portland at last year's trade deadline as part of the Anderson Varejao deal.

Because of the Stepien Rule, teams cannot trade first round picks for consecutive drafts.

Damian Lillard will return to the Portland Trail Blazers' lineup on Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Lillard has missed the past five games with an ankle sprain.

Portland has posted a 2-3 record during the stretch Lillard has missed.

Lillard is averaging 27.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game this season.

The Portland Trail Blazers don't have interest in trading for either DeMarcus Cousins or Nerlens Noel.

Noel figures to remain on the trading block through the deadline as he approaches restricted free agency with the Philadelphia 76ers having a surplus of centers.

The Blazers could use a rim protector at center to anchor their defense, something Noel excels at. Mason Plumlee starts but offers little on the defensive end while Festus Ezeli is unlikely to play this season.

Cousins' future with the Sacramento Kings remains unclear but they are currently the eighth seed with a 15-19 record.

Terry Stotts' job as head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers is not in jeopardy at this time.

The Blazers won 44 games last season as one of the NBA's success stories but they're just 15-21 and currently outside the playoffs this season.

The organization believes the Blazers will reenter the playoff picture as soon as they're healthy. 

Stotts signed a three-year extension with the Blazers in May of 2016.