The Portland Trail Blazers end their seven-game trip at the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night.
The Blazers are 4-2 so far, with both losses coming against elite teams, the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Thunder are also an elite team, but most of their best players have been ruled out for this game, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (rest) and Jalen Williams (right wrist sprain).
Prediction: The Blazers have experienced bad nights against depleted teams. That must change on Friday. This is an excellent opportunity for the Blazers to pick up a game on 10th-place Dallas and 11th-place Phoenix. The Suns play at Denver, while the Mavericks host Memphis.
• • •
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS AT OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
What: Trail Blazers (28-35) at Thunder (51-11), 5 p.m., Friday.
Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City.
Radio: Rip City Radio (KPOJ 620 AM).
TV channel: KATU (Antenna: 2.2 in Portland. Xfinity: 302 and 1170. DirecTV: 688-1. KUNP (Antenna: 47.1. Xfinity: 16, 302, 1170. DirecTV: 47. Spectrum: 184).
How to Watch: Rip City TV Network. If you don’t have cable, you can still watch this game live for FREE with the help of an HDTV antenna on your local ABC affiliate (Charge 2.2 in Portland). These antennas are very easy to install and cost around $20. You can purchase one at your local Bi-Mart or Fred Meyer, or buy one online at Walmart or from Amazon and have it shipped quickly to your home. Here are some instructions on how to set up an HDTV antenna on your television or other display. You can find out more about which channel Rip City TV Network is on in your area by using the channel finder here.
• • •
ODDS (Oregon Lottery/DraftKings)
Moneyline: POR +124 | OKC -148
Spread: POR +2 | Over/Under: 226.5
INJURIES
Blazers: Jerami Grant (right knee tendinitis) and Deni Avdija (left quad contusion) are questionable. Dalano Banton (personal reasons), Robert Williams III (left knee strain), Deandre Ayton (left calf strain) and Matisse Thybulle (right ankle sprain) are out.
Thunder: Dillon Jones (G League two-way) is probable. Chet Holmgren (right lower leg) is questionable. Jalen Williams (right wrist sprain), Luguentz Dortz (right patellofemoral soreness), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (rest), Isaiah Hartenstein (nasal fracture surgery), Ajay Mitchell (right great toe), Nikola Topic (left knee surgery), Cason Wallace (right knee contusion) are out.
NEXT UP
The Blazers return home to host the Detroit Pistons at 6 p.m. Sunday.
-- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)