Portland Trail Blazers vs. Atlanta Hawks: Game preview, prediction, time, TV channel

The Portland Trail Blazers sit in the middle of a six-game stretch where they play just one game.

That game comes at 3 p.m. Sunday against the Atlanta Hawks at the Moda Center.

The Hawks (6-7) travel to Portland with a young roster led by three-time All-Star point guard Trae Young.

He is averaging 23.1 points and 11.3 assists per game but is off to a poor shooting start, hitting 38.1% of his field goal attempts and 34.2% of his three-point attempts.

Mitigating Young's shooting has been the emergence of guard Dyson Daniels, the No. 8 pick in the 2022 NBA draft by the New Orleans Pelicans.

The 6-foot-7 Daniels, in November, is averaging 16.7 points while shooting 49% from the field.

He scored 28 points with seven assists and six steals during a 117-116 win at Boston (11-3) on Tuesday, then followed up with 25 points in Friday's win over Washington (2-9).

Atlanta ranks seventh in scoring (117.2 points per game) but 25th in defensive rating (116.4).

: The Blazers will be without Anfernee Simons (illness) and likely Deandre Ayton (finger). During Tuesday's win over Minnesota, Portland was smoking hot from three-point range. On Wednesday, the Blazers watched the Timberwolves shoot horribly in that win.

Chances are that Atlanta doesn't shoot as poorly as Minnesota, but the Hawks are susceptible to giving up big-scoring nights. In that case, the pick here is the Blazers.

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What: Trail Blazers (5-8) vs. Hawks (6-7), 3 p.m., Sunday.

Where: Moda Center,

Radio: Rip City Radio (KPOJ 620 AM).

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

How to 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 .

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(Oregon Lottery/DraftKings)

Moneyline: POR +170 | ATL -205

Spread: POR +5 | Over/Under:

Blazers: Deandre Ayton (right index finger sprain) is doubtful. Anfernee Simons (illness) and Matisse Thybulle (right knee inflammation) are out.

Hawks: Vit Krejci (right adductor strain) is questionable. Kobe Bufkin (right shoulder subluxation) is doubtful. Bogdan Bogdanovic (right hamstring tendinopathy) and De'Andre Hunter (right knee injury management) are out.

NEXT UP

The Blazers start a five-game at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Oklahoma City (11-2).