Portland Trail Blazers at Denver Nuggets: Game preview, prediction, time, TV channel, how to watch free live stream online

Next up for the Portland Trail Blazers after defeating the Milwaukee Bucks: The defending champion Denver Nuggets.

Twice.

The Blazers have won their last two games against elite teams but winning at Denver will present different challenges.

The Blazers won 130-104 over the Philadelphia 76ers (29-17) on Monday. However, the 76ers were without Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.

Portland’s 119-116 Wednesday over Damian Lillard and the Bucks was far more impressive. But the Blazers were clearly inspired by the weight of the evening. Can they find that same motivation at Denver?

The Blazers could catch a break if superstar center Nikola Jokic, questionable for Friday, misses a game or two.

One obstacle to overcome for the Blazers is that the Nuggets do not lose to bad teams. It’s truly quite impressive.

The Nuggets have lost just four games against teams that currently have a losing record. One came against Utah (24-25) and interestingly, the other three were at the hands of the Houston Rockets (22-25).

Every other loss has come against a winning team. A Blazers victory this weekend would mark Denver’s first loss against a team with a winning percentage under .460. Portland’s is .313.

Prediction: The Blazers have demonstrated that they can defeat good team. But a string of losses usually follows. Unless Jokic doesn’t play, a Nuggets’ victory is the obvious prediction.

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS AT DENVER NUGGETS

What: Trail Blazers (15-33) vs. Nuggets (33-16), 6 p.m., Friday.

Where: Ball Arena, Denver.

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 +525 | DEN -750

Spread: POR +11.5 | Over/Under: 223.5

INJURIES

Blazers: Shaedon Sharpe (abdominal strain), Moses Brown (left wrist surgery) and Robert Williams III (season-ending right knee surgery) are out.

Nuggets: Jamal Murray (left knee contusion) is probable. Nikola Jokic (lower back pain) and Julian Strawther (right knee contusion) are questionable. Vlatko Cancar (left knee surgery) is out.

NEXT UP

The Blazers take on the Nuggets again at 5:30 p.m., Sunday.