Portland Trail Blazers at Golden State Warriors: Game preview, time, TV channel, how to watch free live stream online

Portland Trail Blazers basketball

Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons (#1) drives with Klay Thomas of the Warriors trailing as the Portland Trail Blazers face the Golden State Warriors in an NBA game at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023.Sean Meagher/The Oregonian

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The Portland Trail Blazers might not face a more important opponent this season than the Golden State Warriors.

Why?

Because the Blazers, unlikely to make a serious playoff run this season, own the Warriors’ first-round pick in the 2024 NBA draft. Portland obtained the pick in the trade that sent Jrue Holiday to Boston for Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams III and two first-round picks.

So far, the Warriors’ pick is looking solid. Golden State is off to a slow start at 9-11, which places them 11th in the Western Conference.

Scoring a lottery pick out of the series of deals that also sent Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks for Holiday and other pieces would be a nice development for the Blazers.

So, defeating Golden State would only serve to help the Blazers’ cause.

The Warriors have been pretty average these days. They rank 16th in offensive rating (113.7) and 17th in defensive rating (113.6).

Stephen Curry is still elite and averaging 29.1 points per game. But both Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins are having average seasons while the addition of Chris Paul (39.9 field goal percentage) is not exactly paying off.

Prediction: The Blazers have become completely unpredictable. They played hard enough to win games as double-digit underdogs last week at Indiana (11-8) and Cleveland (11-9). But then they finished their recent four-game trip with a loss at Utah (7-13), which was without its two best scorers.

The Blazers could get back Anfernee Simons Wednesday but Jerami Grant is out with a concussion and center Deandre Ayton is listed as doubtful with right knee soreness.

Losing the 6-foot-8 Grant and 7-0 Ayton would be devastating to the Blazers’ size.

In other words, they couldn’t possibly win at the Warriors without them. In theory.

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS AT GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

What: Trail Blazers (6-13) a Warriors (9-11), 7 p.m., Wednesday.

Where: Chase Center, San Francisco.

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 +550 | GSW -800

Spread: POR +12.5 | Over/Under: 224.5

INJURIES

Blazers: Anfernee Simons (right thumb ligament tear) is questionable. Deandre Ayton (knee soreness) is doubtful. Jerami Grant (concussion protocol), Ish Wainright (right MCL strain) and Robert Williams III (season-ending right knee surgery) are out.

Warriors: Chris Paul (left lower leg nerve) and Andrew Wiggins (right finger contusion) are probable. Gary Payton II (right calf strain) is out.

NEXT UP

The Blazers return home for a 7 p.m. game Friday against the Dallas Mavericks (11-8).

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

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