Portland Trail Blazers vs. Houston Rockets: Game preview, prediction, time, TV channel, how to watch free live stream online

Amen Thompson, Kris Murray

Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson, left, reaches around as Portland Trail Blazers forward Kris Murray dishes off the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, March 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) APAP

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The Portland Trail Blazers close out their home schedule Friday night against an opponent they could have a real chance to defeat.

The Houston Rockets (39-41) are out of the postseason race and have lost six of their last seven games.

Granted, five of the six losses were to teams headed to the postseason, and the one victory came over Orlando (46-34), but still. Should the Blazers play as hard as they have been, they could end their home schedule with a win before playing their final game Sunday at Sacramento. The Kings, in a three-way tie for eighth in the Western Conference, likely must defeat the Blazers to help their play-in tournament positioning.

Prediction: To remain positive with the season coming to an end, the pick is the Blazers. Plus, the Rockets will be without Fred VanVleet (right hip contusion) and Sengun Alperen (right ankle, sprain).

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS VS. HOUSTON ROCKETS

What: Trail Blazers (21-59) vs. Rockets (39-41), 7 p.m., Friday.

Where: Moda Center

Radio: Rip City Radio (KPOJ 620 AM).

TV channel: Root Sports (in Portland: Comcast 734; DirecTV: 687) and Root Sports PLUS (in Portland: Comcast 1253; DirecTV: 688).

Watch the game live online: You can watch this game live for FREE with Fubo (free trial). You can also get this game on DirecTV Stream’s “CHOICE” package (promotional offers), if you are out of fuboTV trials, or simply prefer that platform and their pricing plans. If you already have a cable or satellite provider that carries Root Sports and want to watch online, you can watch this game live on Root Sports Live.

ODDS (Oregon Lottery/DraftKings)

Moneyline: POR +200 | HOU -245

Spread: POR +6.5 | Over/Under: 219

INJURIES

Blazers: Dalano Banton (ankle) and Justin Minaya (left index finger; sprain) are questionable. Jerami Grant (right hamstring; strain), Matisse Thybulle (right ankle; soreness), Anfernee Simons (left knee; tendinitis) and Malcolm Brogdon (right elbow; tendinitis) are out. Shaedon Sharpe (lower abdominal; surgery), Toumani Camara (left rib; fracture) and Robert Williams III (right knee surgery) are out for the season.

Rockets: Amen Thompson (right fifth finger; tendon injury) is available. Fred VanVleet (right hip contusion), Sengun Alperen (right ankle, sprain), Cam Whitmore (right knee, sprain), Jae’Sean Tate (right ankle; sprain), Tari Eason (left tibia surgery) and Steven Adams (right knee PCL surgery) are out.

NEXT UP

The Blazers close their season with a 12:30 game Sunday at the Sacramento Kings.

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-- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)

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