Damian Lillard questionable for Portland Trail Blazers at Miami Heat: Game preview, time, TV channel, how to watch free live stream online

Good news for the Portland Trail Blazers.

Damian Lillard has been upgraded to questionable for Monday night’s game at Miami after missing three games since straining his right calf on Oct. 26 during a loss to Miami at the Moda Center.

Of course, Lillard being listed as questionable doesn’t guarantee that he will play. But it gives him a shot. And since the report came out on Sunday, Lillard has another day to heal further.

Not expected to play at all is Anfernee Simons, listed as doubtful with foot inflammation that caused him to sit out both weekend games at Phoenix where the Blazers split a two-game series.

The Blazers trailed 79-70 against Miami when Lillard went out against the Heat and then pretty much fell to pieces. However, the Blazers looked strong without Lillard on Friday night at the Suns, pulling off a 108-106 upset.

Saturday’s rematch, however, went to the Suns, 102-82.

All told, the Blazers (6-3) are 2-3 since Lillard got injured counting the loss to the Heat.

Although the Blazers defeated the Suns once, it’s difficult to figure that they could win many more games on this six-game trip without him.

The Heat are off to a slow start but still feature one of the best defenses in the NBA, allowing 108.1 points per game, fifth fewest. The Blazers showed at Phoenix on Friday that they could move the ball well enough to win by racking up 30 assists. But that method didn’t prove sustainable the next night when they had 22.

Lillard’s return would obviously return much-needed firepower that the rest of the lineup could feed off of. Without him against Miami, the Blazers were outscored 40-28 after he went out.

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS AT MIAMI HEAT

What: Trail Blazers (6-2) at Heat (4-6), 5:30 p.m., Monday.

Where: FTX Arena, Miami.

Radio: Rip City Radio (KPOJ 620 AM).

TV channel: Root Sports Plus (in Portland: Comcast 1253, DirecTV 687-1).

Watch the game live online: You can watch this game live for FREE with fuboTV (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 +240 | MIA -285

Spread: POR +7 | Over/Under: 220.5

INJURIES

Blazers: F Josh Hart (ankle sprain) and F Justise Winslow (ankle sprain) are probable. G Damian Lillard (right calf strain) is questionable. G Anfernee Simons (left foot inflammation) is doubtful. G Gary Payton II (core muscle surgery recovery) and C Olivier Sarr (right wrist sprain) and

Heat: G Tyler Herro (ankle sprain) is questionable. G Victor Oladipo (left knee), Omer Yurtseven (ankle) and Jamal Cain (two-way player) are out.

NEXT UP

The Blazers play Wednesday in a 4 p.m. game at Charlotte.

— Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook). Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts