Updated: Deni Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe are out for the Blazers.

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Sunday afternoon’s game between the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Lakers will be played without most of the star players for both teams, including Luka Doncic and LeBron James.

The Lakers have nothing left to play for after locking up the third seed in the Western Conference with Friday’s 140-109 win over the Houston Rockets, who finished second.

As for the Blazers franchise, it would benefit from losing on Sunday. Out are Anfernee Simons, Jerami Grant, Scoot Henderson, Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams III. Shaedon Sharpe is questionable and Deni Avdija is doubtful.

Sharpe and Avdija carried those designations into Friday and did not play during the team’s loss to the Golden State Warriors.

A Blazers loss, or a Phoenix Suns win at Sacramento, would lock Portland into the ninth-worst record in the NBA. A win and a Suns loss, would leave the Blazers and Phoenix tied for ninth.

The ninth-place team will have a 4.5% chance of winning the top pick in the 2025 NBA draft and a 20.3% chance of landing in the top four. The team with the 10th-worst record will have a 3% chance at the top pick and a 13.9% chance at jumping into the top four.

Should the Suns and Blazers tie, they would split the combined 7.5% shot at the top pick.

The Kings (39-42) will be motivated to defeat the Suns, who will play without Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.

With a victory, Sacramento secures the ninth seed in the play-in. A loss and a Dallas win at Memphis would push the Kings to 10th behind the Mavericks (39-42).

Prediction: The backup Blazers, along with Toumani Camara, will play harder than the Lakers’ backups and win.

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PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS VS. LOS ANGELES LAKERS

What: Trail Blazers (35-46) vs. Lakers (50-31), 12:30 p.m., Sunday.

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.

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ODDS (Oregon Lottery/DraftKings)

Moneyline: POR -148 | LAK +124

Spread: POR -3 | Over/Under: 220.5

INJURIES

Blazers: Shaedon Sharpe (right knee soreness), Deni Avdija (right thumb sprain), Anfernee Simons (right forearm contusion), Jerami Grant (right knee tendinitis), Scoot Henderson (concussion protocol), Deandre Ayton (left calf strain), Robert Williams III (left knee sprain) and Bryce McGowens (right rib fracture) are out.

Lakers: Jordan Goodwin (right plantar fasciitis) is probable. Jaxson Hayes (right hand contusion) and Jarred Vanderbilt (left foot injury management) are questionable. Luka Doncic (left quad soreness), LeBron James (left groin strain), Dorian Finney-Smith (left ankle effusion), Rui Hachimura (left patellar tendinopathy), Maxi Kleber (right foot surgery) and Austin Reeves (right ankle sprain) are out.

NEXT UP

Offseason.

— Aaron Fentress | [email protected] | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)