The Portland Trail Blazers would move to within there games of 10th place in the Western Conference with a victory Monday night against the Washington Wizards at the Moda Center.
The Wizards (15-51) have the second-worst record in the NBA but should not be considered a pushover, especially for the Blazers (29-39).
Washington has won six of 10, including wins Saturday at Denver (43-25) and Thursday at Detroit (37-31).
The Blazers barely pulled out a 105-102 win Sunday over the Toronto Raptors (24-44), who were down several key players.
The Blazers won 129-121 at Washington on Feb. 26. But rookie Alex Sarr did not play that night. He scored 34 points with six rebounds and five assists against the Nuggets.
A Blazers' victory would push them to Also on Sunday, 10th-place Dallas (33-36) lost 130-125 at home to Philadelphia and the 11th-place Phoenix Suns (31-37) lost 107-96 at the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Blazers (29-39) ended the day three games behind the 10th-place Dallas Mavericks (33-36), who are off on Monday.
The 12th-place Blazers are two games behind 11th-place Phoenix (31-37), which hosts the Raptors on Monday.
Prediction: The Blazers did not look great against Toronto but they have no excuse to blow this opportunity against the Wizards. Even while playing the second game of a back-to-back.
Losing to fall to four games back of Dallas with Memphis, Denver, Boston and Cleveland remaining on this seven-game homestand would be problematic.
• • •
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS VS. WASHINGTON WIZARDS
What: Trail Blazers (29-39) vs. Wizards (15-51), 7 p.m., Monday.
Where: Moda Center.
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 +154 | WAS -185
Spread: POR -4.5 | Over/Under: 231.5
INJURIES
Blazers: Toumani Camara (right calf soreness) is questionable. Jerami Grant (right knee tendinitis) is doubtful. Robert Williams III (left knee sprain), Jabari Walker (concussion protocol) and Deandre Ayton (left calf strain) are out.
Wizards: Marcus Smart (illness) is questionable. Corey Kispert (left thumb strain), Bilal Coulibaly (right hamstring strain), Malcolm Brogdon (left ankle sprain) and Saddiq Bey (left knee ACL surgery) are out.
NEXT UP
The Blazers host the Memphis Grizzlies (43-25) at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
-- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)