Portland Trail Blazers vs. Memphis Grizzlies: Match Preview, Prediction, Time, TV Channel

The Portland Trail Blazers return home from a 3-1 loss in four games to host the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday night at the Moda Center.

The Grizzlies will be without star guards Ja Morant (hip) and Desmond Bane (right oblique). Guard Marcus Smart (ankle sprain) is questionable.

Still, the Grizzles (6-4) are one point ahead of the Blazers (3-7).

Oh, the disrespect.

On the other hand, Memphis won 128-104 at home against Washington (2-5) on Friday without all three.

Forward Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 39 points against the Wizards and rookie center Zach Edey came off the bench to score 14 points with eight rebounds.

Speaking of 7-foot-4 Edey, the Grizzlies selected him No. 9 in the NBA draft last June, two picks after the Blazers selected 7-2 center Donovan Clingan.

Clingan and Connecticut defeated Edey and Purdue 75-60 in last season’s NCAA men’s national championship game.

Edey scored 37 points with 10 rebounds. Clingan, who played deeper, scored 11 points with five rebounds.

Comparisons between the two will be made for years to come, especially if Edey turns out to be more productive than Clingan.

So far this season, Clingan has played 13.6 minutes per game off the bench and is averaging 4.0 points and 5.0 rebounds. Edey has started nine of 10 games and is averaging 11.1 points with 6.7 rebounds in 19.3 minutes per game.

To be fair, Edey was drafted by a team in desperate need of a center while the Blazers already had Deandre Ayton as their starter.

Forecast: Aside from quality teams like Golden State, Phoenix and Minnesota, the Blazers have played relatively well this season.

The Grizzlies are not a top team without Morant and Bane.

After going 1-3 on the road and with the Timberwolves on the line on Tuesday and Wednesday nights (my goodness), we can expect the Blazers to do everything they can to win and succeed against Memphis.

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PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS VS. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

What: Trail Blazers (3-7) vs. Grizzlies (6-4), 6 p.m., Sunday.

Where: Moda Center

Radio: Rip City Radio (KPOJ 620 AM).

TV channels: KATU Charge (Antenna: 2.2 in Portland. Comcast: 302 and 1170. DirecTV and Dish: Available January 1).

How to watch: Rip City TV Network. If you don’t have cable, you can watch this game live for FREE using an HDTV antenna at your local ABC affiliate (2.2 fee 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 Amazon and have it shipped quickly to your home. Here are some instructions for setting up an HDTV antenna on your TV or other display. You can find out more about which channel Rip City TV Network is on near you using the channel finder here.

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OPPORTUNITIES (Oregon Lottery/DraftKings)

Money line: POR-105 | MEM-115

Spread: POR +1 | Over/Under: 227

INJURIES

Blazer: Matisse Thybulle (Right knee preservation) is out.

Grizzlies: Colin Castleton (Left ankle sprain) is questionable. Marcus Smart (Right ankle sprain) is doubtful. Yes Morant (right hip and pelvic muscle strain), Desmond Bane (right oblique stretch), GG Jackson (repair of the right fifth metatarsal bone), Cam Spencer (Right ankle sprain) and Vince Williams Jr. (stress reaction of the left shinbone) are excluded.

Next

The Blazers host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday and Wednesday at 7 p.m.