Portland's success at home has helped put the team in contention for its first playoff appearance since 2003. The Blazers (34-20) are 22-5 at the Rose Garden, winning their seventh straight there Friday night with a 108-98 victory over Atlanta.

Big man LaMarcus Aldridge said Portland needs to maintains that edge, especially since it has a chance to earn home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Blazers are in fourth place in the Western Conference.

"As long as we keep playing hard, and taking care of the home court, we'll be good," Aldridge said.

Portland has matched its longest home winning streak of the season. The Blazers won their first seven games at the Rose Garden.

Four of Portland's losses at home have been against playoff contenders - Orlando, Dallas, New Orleans and Cleveland.

The Blazers' only other defeat at the Rose Garden, though, was versus a Clippers team that has one of the league's worst records in a 120-112 double-overtime loss Dec. 12.

Los Angeles (13-42) is 7-21 on the road and is coming off a terrible home-and-home series with Phoenix. The Clippers lost the finale with the Suns 142-119 on Wednesday night after falling 140-100 at Phoenix the previous evening.

Los Angeles forward Zach Randolph was suspended two games for a violent exchange with Louis Amundson in the series opener. Randolph, who has flown to Indianapolis to be with his seriously ill father, won't get a chance to have another big performance against his former team.

The veteran big man, who played his first six seasons with Portland, had 38 points and 11 rebounds in the last meeting at the Rose Garden.

The Clippers may also be without starting center Marcus Camby for the fourth straight game because of an infection in his right ear, which occurred on the team flight back from Charlotte on Feb. 9. Camby had his ear drained Wednesday and is hoping doctors will clear him to fly to Portland.

"We're inventing new ways to get hurt," Los Angeles coach Mike Dunleavy said. "I mean, in the annals of the league, what's the percentages of one of your players flying on an airplane and his ear drum caves in? I mean, it's like, what other kind of injury can happen?"

Portland is expected to play without its own starting center, Greg Oden, who has missed two straight games because of a bone chip in his left knee. He was hurt in a collision during a game at Golden State before the All-Star break.

The top pick in the 2007 draft, Oden is averaging 9.2 points and 7.0 rebounds. Joel Przybilla has started in his place.

Oden had 16 points to help the Blazers win their only other meeting with the Clippers this season, 113-88 at Los Angeles on Jan. 26.