The Portland Trail Blazers return to KGW for the first time since 2017. Watch Tuesday’s game vs. the Suns live on KGW Channel 8 (NBC) and Peacock.

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Trail Blazers will play a game Tuesday night on KGW, Portland’s NBC affiliate, for the first time in more than eight years.

Before Tuesday’s game against the Phoenix Suns, the last Blazers game on KGW was April 24, 2017. That night, Portland fans watched Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors beat Damian Lillard and the Blazers 128-103. It was the final game of a four-game sweep in the first round of the playoffs, ending Portland’s season and a 25-year partnership with KGW.


How to watch Tuesday’s game


Portland Trail Blazers (6-7) vs Phoenix Suns (8-6)

Time: 8 p.m.TV: KGW Channel 8 in Portland, NBC, Peacock (streaming)Announcers: Terry Gannon, Derek Fisher, Grant Liffmann

From 1992 to 2017, KGW aired a slate of Trail Blazers games each season. The partnership ended after the 2017 season when the team signed a new TV deal making Comcast Sports Northwest (later NBC Sports Northwest) its exclusive media partner. That deal ended in 2021, and the team then moved to Root Sports Northwest for three seasons.

The Blazers launched their own television network in partnership with Sinclair Broadcasting before the 2024-25 season, moving games back to over-the-air broadcasts. They also introduced a direct-to-consumer streaming service called BlazerVision.

The NBA returned to NBC this season after nearly two decades under a new 11-year media rights deal with NBCUniversal, Disney and Amazon. NBC and its streaming service Peacock have rights to up to 100 regular-season games per year, including exclusive rights to Monday night streaming and Tuesday night broadcasts.

This season, the Blazers will play eight games on national TV, six of which will air on KGW. Here’s a look at that schedule, starting with Tuesday’s game against Phoenix:

Tuesday, Nov. 18 vs. Phoenix Suns, 8 p.m. — KGW/NBCFriday, Dec. 26 vs. L.A. Clippers, 7 p.m. — Amazon PrimeMonday, Dec. 29 vs. Dallas Mavericks, 8 p.m. — KGW/NBCTuesday, Jan. 13 at Golden State Warriors, 8 p.m. — KGW/NBCMonday, Jan. 26 at Boston Celtics, 5 p.m. — PeacockTuesday, Feb. 3 vs. Phoenix Suns, 8 p.m. — KGW/NBCTuesday, Feb. 24 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, 8 p.m. — KGW/NBCTuesday, March 31 at L.A. Clippers, 8 p.m. — KGW/NBC


What to know about the Blazers this season

Portland got off to a strong start, winning five of its first eight games, before stumbling on a recently completed five-game road trip, going 1-4. The Blazers return home to the Moda Center for Tuesday’s game, where they are 3-2 so far this season. Deni Avdija leads Portland, averaging 26 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists. Shaedon Sharpe is averaging 22.1 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, including 30.3 points over the past four contests. The Blazers rank 12th in offensive rating and 21st in defensive rating through their first 13 games.


What to know about the Suns this season

After starting the season 1-4, Phoenix has won seven of its past nine games. The Suns’ five-game winning streak ended Sunday with a 124-122 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Phoenix is 6-2 at home but 2-4 on the road. Devin Booker leads the Suns, averaging 28.4 points, 7.0 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game. Former Oregon Duck Dillon Brooks is second on the team in scoring, averaging 22 points per game, including 66 total points in the past two games. The Suns rank ninth in offensive rating and 14th in defensive rating through their first 14 games.