PORTLAND, Ore. — If the Los Angeles Lakers were looking for a threat from within the Western Conference, they've got one.

After the Portland Trail Blazers beat them again, Kobe Bryant was direct when asked if he wanted to come to Portland again this postseason, spitting out a profanity and then saying: "Love it. Absolutely."

The Lakers' 106-98 loss Friday night could have ramifications if the Lakers do win the West: They need the Cleveland Cavaliers to lose two of their final three games — and the Lakers need to beat Memphis and Utah — to pull out home-court advantage in an NBA Finals matchup against Cleveland.

The Lakers' confidence at performing on the road has been absent in both trips to Portland this season. They missed their last seven shots of the game after two Bryant free throws cut Portland's lead to 99-98 with 3:02 to play.

"We were settling a lot for jumpers instead of taking the ball to the basket when we needed to score," said acting Lakers coach Kurt Rambis.

Bryant was hot for a while in the fourth quarter but wound up shooting 9 for 24 from the field in his 32-point outing. The Lakers might have missed

Coach Phil Jackson, who stayed home to rest his sore right foot, because Rambis' decision to go back to Derek Fisher late and even call a play with Fisher as a main option proved costly.

With Portland ahead, 101-98, Bryant drew the defense with a drive and kicked the ball to the corner for Fisher. He had been asked by Rambis if he was capable of returning to the floor late in the fourth quarter despite sitting throughout Shannon Brown's strong run that began midway through third.

Fisher missed a contested 3-pointer, his sixth miss in seven shots. Bryant missed a forced 3-pointer and committed a turnover trying to pass to Lamar Odom on the perimeter on the next Lakers possessions.

Portland got 24 points and eight assists from Brandon Roy and stayed even with San Antonio for the West's No. 4 seed that comes with home-court advantage in the first round. Houston is at No. 3, a half-game ahead.

If the Trail Blazers and Spurs stay tied, Portland has the tiebreaker. The winner of the 4-vs.-5 series is in line for second-round date with the Lakers. The Lakers have lost eight consecutive games in Portland and 14 of the past 16.