2013 Portland Trailblazers schedule: Emphasis is on playoff competition

Jan. 23 vs. Nuggets -- The game will air on TNT and feature two teams that will be battling for playoff spots in the Western Conference. Six teams -- San Antonio, Golden State, Houston, Oklahoma City, Memphis, and the Los Angeles Clippers -- seem all but guaranteed to make the postseason. That means capable teams like Portland, Dallas, Denver, Minnesota, New Orleans and the Lakers will be fighting for two spots.

April 1 at Lakers -- Another TNT matchup late in the season could be especially important if the Lakers and Blazers are fighting for playoff positioning. In all likelihood, at least one of the teams will still be clawing its way to a postseason spot.

The Blazers will play a brutal mid-January stretch that begins with a Texas tour through San Antonio, Dallas and then Houston. From there, Portland heads to Oklahoma City and then plays Denver, Minnesota, Golden State and Memphis consecutively.

From Feb. 5 through Feb. 19, the Blazers play the Knicks, Pacers, Timberwolves, Thunder and Clippers. And one of their five-game road trips in mid-March includes stiff competition against Dallas, Houston, Memphis, San Antonio and New Orleans.

Five games into the season, Portland has a reasonable schedule. It plays Sacramento twice and then plays Detroit, Phoenix, Boston and Toronto.

Additionally, the first two weeks of January should give the Blazers a chance to find some confidence, with games against the Bobcats, 76ers, Kings, Magic, Celtics and Cavaliers.

Back-to-backs: 19

Season opener: Oct. 30 at Phoenix

Home opener: Nov. 2 vs. Spurs

Longest road trip: Five games (March 7-14, March 22-28)

Longest homestand: Four games (Dec. 2-7, Feb. 26-March 5)