Portland Trail Blazers vs. LA Clippers: Game preview, time, TV channel, how to watch free live stream online
The Portland Trail Blazers will receive an early Christmas present when they return to Moda Center Tuesday night to host the LA Clippers.
The Clippers will be without three of their top players, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard and John Wall, making the matchup far less daunting for the Blazers.
The absence of those three players certainly helps balance out the Blazers once again being down Damian Lillard. So much so that the Blazers are 3.5-point favorites and should have a good chance to pick up a victory before facing two road games at the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah.
However, the Blazers can’t afford to take the Clippers lightly, as the betting line suggests. The Clippers were minus the same trio during Sunday’s 114-100 win at Indiana (11-8). Center Ivica Zubac scored 31 points with 29 rebounds and former Blazers guard/forward, Norman Powell, came off the bench for 19 points.
Also, Leonard has appeared in just five games this season while Marcus Morris Sr. has emerged as the team’s second leading scorer behind George.
Finally, the Clippers, regardless of who is in the lineup, play elite defense as their No. 2 defensive rating (109.5) suggests. But their offense is suspect with a 108.9 rating, 28th in the NBA.
Few things are a given in the NBA, but home games against banged up teams minus three key players should result in victories more times than not.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS VS. LA CLIPPERS
What: Trail Blazers (11-9) vs. Clippers (12-9), 7 p.m., Tuesday.
Where: Moda Center.
Radio: Rip City Radio (KPOJ 620 AM).
TV channel: TV channel: TNT (in Portland: Comcast 754/54, DirecTV 245).
How to watch live stream online: You can watch this game live for FREE with DirecTV Stream (free trial) or watch this game live with Sling (promotional offers). You can also get this game on Hulu + Live (free trial) if you prefer that service and their pricing plans. If you already have a subscription with a cable provider, you can sign in and stream it live on Watch TNT.
ODDS (Oregon Lottery/DraftKings)
Moneyline: POR -155 | LAC +135
Spread: POR -3.5 | Over/Under: 217
INJURIES
Blazers: Damian Lillard (right soleus strain), Keon Johnson (left hip pointer), Gary Payton II (return to competition reconditioning) and Greg Brown III (G League) are out.
Clippers: Paul George (hamstring strain), Luke Kenard (calf strain), Kawhi Leonard (ankle sprain) and Jon Wall (left knee) are out.
NEXT UP
The Blazers play a 7 p.m. game, Wednesday at the Los Angeles Lakers.
— Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook). Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts
