Portland Trail Blazers at Houston Rockets: Game preview, prediction, time, TV channel, how to watch free live stream online
The Portland Trail Blazers have little time to get over their 111-109 loss Tuesday night at the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Next up is the Houston Rockets, another young team on the rise in the Western Conference.
The Rockets have already reached the 20-win mark after averaging just 19.7 wins over the past three seasons.
Houston has drafted well, adding Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason in recent years. But the moves that put the Rockets in a position to win more this season were the additions of veterans, point guard Fred VanVleet and forward Dillon Brooks.
VanVleet is orchestrating the young talent while distributing 8.5 assists per game. Meanwhile, Brooks is providing defensive toughness and attitude while scoring 13.7 points per game.
The Rockets enter Wednesday in 11th place in the Western Conference while the Blazers are 8 1/2 games back in 14th.
The Blazers are catching the Rockets during a down swing. They have lost six of their last eight games. However, five came against winning teams, Boston (twice), Philadelphia, New York and Miami. The only losing team the Rockets lost to during that stretch was Chicago (21-24).
Prediction: The Rockets, who are getting the Blazers on the second game of a back-to-back and coming off of an emotional loss, are the clear pick.
- Chauncey Billups, Trail Blazers leave Oklahoma City frustrated following ignored timeout request
- Late timeout ignored, Chauncey Billups ejected during Trail Blazers’ 111-109 loss at Oklahoma City Thunder
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS AT HOUSTON ROCKETS
What: Trail Blazers (12-31) at Rockets (20-22), 5 p.m., Wednesday.
Where: Houston Toyota 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 +390 | HOU -520
Spread: POR +10.5 | Over/Under: 220.5
INJURIES
Blazers: Shaedon Sharpe (abdominal strain), Moses Brown (left wrist surgery) and Robert Williams III (season-ending right knee surgery) are out.
Rockets: Jalen Green (illness) and Reggie Bullock Jr. (lower back strain) are questionable. Tari Eason (lower left leg injury management) and Victor Oladipo (left patellar tendon repair) are out.
NEXT UP
The Blazers conclude their four-game trip Friday at the San Antonio Spurs.
