Lakers Will Play in Portland Tonight Without Ailing Johnson and Kupchak

Already short-handed because of Magic Johnson’s knee injury, the Lakers find themselves down to only one healthy center for their game against the Portland Trail Blazers tonight at the Coliseum.

Mitch Kupchak, the backup center to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, won’t play against the Trail Blazers because of a sprained right ankle that he injured in the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ 125-115 victory over Milwaukee Tuesday night at the Forum.

Kupchak’s ankle was X-rayed Wednesday, but the results were negative.

Johnson has a swollen right knee that has prevented him from practicing and will keep him out of his fourth consecutive game tonight.

Both Kupchak and Johnson are listed as day-to-day, which means they could possibly be ready to play Friday night against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Forum.

The Lakers, 3-0 against Portland this season, have beaten the Trail Blazers 17 times in their last 20 meetings. Coach Jack Ramsay’s team isn’t entirely healthy either. Center Sam Bowie won’t play against the Lakers because of a leg injury.