Portland Trail Blazers at Phoenix Suns: Game preview, time, TV channel, how to watch free live stream online

Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton returns to Phoenix Tuesday night to face the team that drafted him No. 1 overall in 2018.

The Suns are off to a slow start without him while waiting for Bradley Beal to work his way back from an injury.

Ayton’s replacement, former Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic, has been below average offensively for the Suns so far this season. He is shooting a career-low 42.9% while averaging 10.5 points per game. He is, however, pulling down a solid 8.9 rebounds per game and has a solid 110 defensive rating.

Ayton is averaging a career-low 12.2 points per game but is accumulating 11 rebounds per game while shooting 56.7%.

These two will forever be compared unless one clearly eclipses the other.

Prediction: In order for the Blazers, losers of seven consecutive games, to have a chance in this game they will probably need Ayton his matchup with Nurkic. The Blazers are so limited offensively that if Ayton isn’t on, they are doomed. The Suns are underachieving thus far, but have a three-game winning streak going with Kevin Durant playing at a high level. This matchup shouldn’t be difficult for the Suns.

What: Trail Blazers (3-10) at. Suns (7-6), 6 p.m., Tuesday.

Where: Footprint Center, Phoenix.

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 .

(Oregon Lottery/DraftKings)

Moneyline: POR +490 | PHX -675

Spread: POR +12.5 | Over/Under:

Blazers: Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring strain), is questionable. Scoot Henderson (right ankle sprain), Anfernee Simons (right thumb ligament tear), Ish Wainright (right calf strain) and Robert Williams III (right knee) are out.

Suns: Jordan Goodwin (jaw contusion) is available. Bradley Beal (lower back strain), Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery) and Yuta Watanabe (left quad contusion) are out.

NEXT UP

The Blazers return home for a 7 p.m. game Wednesday against Utah (4-9).

- Aaron Fentress | | (Twitter), (Instagram), (Facebook)