RealGM Basketball Wiretap

28 February 2026

• How To Watch Portland Portland Trail Blazers vs. Chicago Bulls NBA Game: Tip-Off Time, Cable Channels, Livestream Providers

  The February 26 matchup between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Chicago Bulls at the United Center is a pivotal contest for two franchises navigating late-season transitions.

  Portland enters the game with a 28-31 record, sitting 9th in the Western Conference and fighting to maintain its position in the Play-In race. Meanwhile, the Bulls (24-35) are mired in a ten-game losing streak, their longest skid in over seven years, and are looking to find a spark as they fall toward the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.

  The Portland Trail Blazers are currently weathering a severe injury crisis, missing their two leading scorers, Deni Avdija (back) and Shaedon Sharpe (calf). This depletion has forced veterans Jerami Grant and Jrue Holiday to take on heavy offensive loads, with Holiday recently contributing 22 points in a narrow loss to Minnesota. Despite these absences, the Blazers remain an elite rebounding force, ranking 8th in the league and utilizing rookie center Donovan Clingan to anchor the interior.

  The Chicago Bulls are firmly in the midst of a roster overhaul, having moved eight players since the season's start to prioritize the development of their young core. Rookie Matas Buzelis has emerged as a significant bright spot, scoring a career-high 32 points in his most recent outing on February 24. However, the Bulls' defense remains a liability, allowing an average of 120.4 points per game, and the team is struggling to protect the ball, recording 21 turnovers in their last blowout loss.

  Competition	NBA Regular Season
  Teams	Portland Trail Blazers (Away) vs. Chicago Bulls (Home)
  Date & Time	Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 8:00 PM ET
  Where	United Center (Chicago, IL)

  How to watch Portland Portland Trail Blazers vs. Chicago Bulls - national and local U.S. TV channels & live streams

  Fans in the Portland market can watch the game locally on KUNP, which serves as the team's independent broadcast home, or stream it via the "BlazerVision" service. Chicago viewers can tune in through the Chicago Sports Network (CHSN+), available via the standalone CHSN app for $20 a month or through cable providers like Xfinity and DIRECTV. For cord-cutters, Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM provide access to both local and national broadcasts, while out-of-market fans in the United States can stream the contest live on NBA League Pass.

  How to watch Portland Trail Blazers vs. Chicago Bulls Internationally and Out-of-Market

  If you are outside of the USA, the NBA game between Portland Trail Blazers vs. Chicago Bulls should be available to livestream with an NBA League Pass.

  Please be aware that livestream rights vary by country and depend on local broadcast deals. NBA games that aren't shown live on NBA League Pass are usually later made available on-demand.

  Stream internationally on League Pass

  Stream now

  How to watch anywhere with VPN

  If you are abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) in order to watch games using your usual streaming service. A VPN, such as ExpressVPN, allows you to establish a secure connection online when streaming.

• Shaedon Sharpe Out 4-6 Weeks With Stress Reaction In Left Fibula

  Shaedon Sharpe has been diagnosed with a stress reaction of the left fibula. Sharpe continues to receive treatment associated with a left calf strain.

  Sharpe will be re-evaluated in approximately four-to-six weeks to allow for adequate healing before beginning a progressive return to full basketball activity.

  In 48 games this season, Sharpe is averaging 21.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 30.0 minutes.

  Before the start of the season, Sharpe and the Portland Trail Blazers signed a four-year, $90 million extension.

• How to watch Minnesota Timberwolves @ Portland Trail Blazers NBA game

  On Tuesday, February 24, 2026, the Minnesota Timberwolves travel to the Moda Center to face the Portland Trail Blazers.

  Entering late February 2026, the Minnesota Timberwolves occupy the sixth seed in the Western Conference with a record of 35-23. While the team's statistical profile suggests they are a legitimate championship contender, currently ranking 7th in both offensive and defensive rating, their season has been marred by a perceived lack of consistency and a frustrating tendency to drop games against undermanned or sub-.500 opponents.

  The Portland Trail Blazers enter the February 24 matchup with a 28-30 record, placing them ninth in the Western Conference and firmly in the mix for a Play-In Tournament spot. The health of Deni Avdija is the central concern for the Blazers as they prepare for the Timberwolves. Avdija has emerged as the centerpiece of Portland's rebuild, averaging 25.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.8 assists while providing elite playmaking as a "point-forward". However, Avdija aggravated a recurring lower back injury during the first minute of a February 22 win over the Phoenix Suns, and his availability for Tuesday is currently questionable. If Avdija is sidelined, the offensive burden shifts significantly to veteran Jerami Grant and rookie Donovan Clingan. Clingan has been a revelation in February, recording five double-doubles in nine appearances and currently ranking third in the NBA in rebounds per game (11.4).

  Competition	NBA Regular Season
  Teams (Home vs. Away)	Portland Trail Blazers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
  Date & Time	Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 7:00 PM PST
  Where (Stadium/Venue)	Moda Center, Portland, Oregon

  How to watch Minnesota Timberwolves @ Portland Trail Blazers online - national and local U.S. TV channels & live streams

  The primary vehicle for domestic viewers to access the February 24 matchup is Peacock, NBCUniversal's flagship streaming service, which has become the exclusive home for Tuesday night NBA contests under the league's new media architecture. This shift is part of an $11-year deal that reintroduces the NBA to NBC's airwaves for the first time in over two decades, though the bulk of the regular-season inventory is strategically placed on Peacock to drive subscriber growth. The game is scheduled for a tip-off at 10:00 PM ET (7:00 PM local time in Portland), and viewers will require a Peacock Premium or Premium Plus subscription to access the live stream. Current pricing for Peacock Premium starts at $7.99 per month or $79.99 annually, providing access to roughly 100 regular-season games, including exclusive "Peacock NBA Monday" matchups and Sunday doubleheaders.

  The production value of these Peacock-exclusive games is designed to mirror the high-stakes atmosphere of the "NBA on NBC" era of the 1990s. The broadcast talent pool features industry leaders such as Mike Tirico, who leads the primary play-by-play coverage, often supported by high-profile analysts including Reggie Miller, Jamal Crawford, and Grant Hill. In addition to live coverage, the Peacock platform offers an interactive "Live Boxscore" and post-game analysis, ensuring that the digital experience remains competitive with traditional linear television. For those unable to watch the game live, NBA League Pass provides on-demand replays for all out-of-market games, though local blackout restrictions still apply in the Minnesota and Portland regions for those attempting to stream through the league's primary app.

  .

  How to watch Minnesota Timberwolves @ Portland Trail Blazers internationally

  If you are outside of the USA, the NBA game between Minnesota Timberwolves @ Portland Trail Blazers should be available to livestream with an NBA League Pass.

  Please be aware that livestream rights vary by country and depend on local broadcast deals. NBA games that aren't shown live on NBA League Pass are usually later made available on-demand.

  Stream internationally on League Pass

  Stream now

  How to watch anywhere with VPN

  If you are abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) in order to watch games using your usual streaming service. A VPN, such as ExpressVPN, allows you to establish a secure connection online when streaming.

• Deni Avdija Leaves Blazers' Win With Lower Back Injury

  Deni Avdija left the Portland Trail Blazers' 92-77 win over the Phoenix Suns due to a lower back injury and did not return to the game.

  Avdija, who was questionable with the injury heading into the game, played one minute before leaving.

  Avdija has battled the injury for several weeks.

  The forward is averaging 25 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.8 assists on the season.

• Sidy Cissoko, Blazers Convert Two-Way To Two-Year Standard Deal, Waive Rayan Rupert

  Sidy Cissoko and the Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to a new two-year standard NBA deal as he converts off his Two-Way. Cissoko had used up his available Two-Way games.

  In 50 games with the Blazers this season, Cissoko has averaged 6.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 22.3 minutes.

  Cissoko was the 44th overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft out of G League Ignite and is represented by Maxwell Wiepking and Nicolas Dos Santos.

  The Blazers first signed Cissoko to a Two-Way contract after the trade deadline in 2025 after he was part of the San Antonio Spurs' trade for De'Aaron Fox.

  In a related move, the Blazers have waived Rayan Rupert. Rupert appeared in 48 games with the Blazers this season, averaging 2.9 points and 1.8 rebounds in 12.0 minutes.

• Matisse Thybulle, Kris Murray Closing In On Returns; Shaedon Sharpe Still Out

  The Portland Trail Blazers are close to getting a pair of rotation players back into the lineup. Unfortunately, Portland will need to wait a bit to get a regular starter back.

  Matisse Thybulle and Kris Murray are both close to returning for the Trail Blazers. Thybulle has played in just four games this season. He underwent thumb surgery in late-October, but it's been right knee soreness that has kept Thybulle out for a while.

  Murray has been out for nearly two months due to a back strain. Both Thybulle and Murray have been updated for questionable for the Blazers first game post-All-Star break.

  The new isn't as good on Shaedon Sharpe, however. Sharpe missed Portland's last four games before the All-Star break due to a strained calf. Trail Blazer head coach Tiago Splitter said it will be a while before the starting guard returns to the lineup.

  "He didn't practice," Splitter said of Sharpe's availability. "We're still evaluating how long he's going to be out, but for the near future, he's going to be out for a little bit."

• Damian Lillard Wins 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend 3-Point Contest

  Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers won the 2026 NBA 3-Point Contest. Lillard beat Devin Booker and Kon Knueppel in the final round with a score of 29 points. Booker finished in second place with a score of 27 points.

  Following the event, Lillard expressed gratitude to the NBA for letting him compete in the event despite not having played this season. The Blazers star guard is rehabbing from a torn Achilles' tendon that he suffered in last season's playoffs while with the Milwaukee Bucks.

• Damian Lillard 'Can Do A Lot' But Won't Rush Return To Play

  Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard is gearing up to compete in the Three-Point Shootout at NBA All-Star Weekend. Lillard is doing so, in part, because he needs to feel competition again.

  "I need some competition," Lillard said. "I've just been working out, not playing, so I need some type of competition. I just need a bump."

  Lillard competing at All-Star Weekend is part of a recovery that the Blazers star termed as "progressive".

  "I can do a lot, that's where I'll put it," Lillard said, while emphasizing that he's on his own timeline and not focused on where Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics or Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers are in their recoveries from their own Achilles' tears.

  "I'm running my own race," Lillard said. "If I was 23, 24, 25, I probably would be more (competitive) about who is doing what, but I know where I am physically. I can feel it. I'm on the court every day, and to me, it's not about what (Tatum, who joined the Celtics G League team for practice this week) is doing. After the season, I'm going into a full summer to get ready for next season, and I want to make sure that I'm 1,000 percent and that I can play every year for the rest of my career as the best version of myself. So, I'm not in a hurry, especially knowing that I've got time. That's the game I'm playing."

• Cavaliers, Blazers Have Shown Interest In Trading For Giannis Antetokounmpo

  The odds of a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade continue to decrease as we approach the trade deadline as both the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves have executed alternative deals. The Warriors, Wolves and Miami Heat have been the most aggressive, while the New York Knicks have also been linked with trading for Antetokounmpo.

  This could leave a dark horse team if something will unexpectedly be completed by Jon Horst and the Milwaukee Bucks by the trade deadline with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Portland Trail Blazers also on the fringes of the conversations. The Cavaliers have perhaps the best young player to potentially offer in a trade for Antetokounmpo in Evan Mobley, while the Blazers are in the unique position of being able to offer some of Milwaukee's own picks back to them.

  "Yeah, we're pretty much-I've been at 51-49 against a trade," said Brian Windhorst on Get Up on Thursday morning. "I'm now sort of moving more towards 60-40 against a trade. Minnesota is still out there, but I'm going to be honest with you, I don't think Minnesota's offer was as good as Golden State's. And if Golden State's offer is not good enough and Minnesota can't do a trade to improve their offer, I don't think Minnesota is realistic.

  "That, in my mind, leaves Miami. Miami is making a sort of player-and-sort-of-semi-draft-pick offer. It's a decent offer. I don't think it's something that you would stop everything for-for Giannis.

  "There's a couple of other teams out there that have shown interest. Cleveland has shown some interest in Giannis, but they are in a position with James Harden now where they've sort of picked the lane. Portland has sniffed around Giannis. They have the Bucks' draft picks and draft assets from the Damian Lillard trade, but these are not compelling things. So unless there's a secret thing going on, I'm not feeling Giannis moving right now. And Giannis has not forced the issue, and that is probably going to be a factor."

  Windhorst later said on First Take that the Cavaliers are less likely to be in the mix for Antetokounmpo following their trade of Darius Garland for James Harden.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo Camp Signals No Interest In Signing Extension With Blazers

  Giannis Antetokoumpo's camp has signaled to the Portland Trail Blazers that they have no interest in signing a contract extension with the team should they trade for the 31-year-old, sources told Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

  Antetokounmpo has a player option for the 2027-28 season.

  The Blazers emerged as a trade candidate for Antetokounmpo earlier this week, though it was revealed then that Antetokounmpo does not want to go to Portland.

  The Blazers could still help facilitate a deal involving Antetkounmpo as a third team in a trade.