The Portland Trail Blazers take their slim summer league playoff hopes into a Friday night matchup with the Charlotte Hornets in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Each 2-1 team must win by a significant margin to have a chance at squeezing into the top four in the summer league standings.

Friday begins with two 4-0 teams (Memphis and the LA Clippers) and three 3-0 teams, all of which have a greater average point differential than the Blazers (0.7).

So, Portland needs two of the three 3-0 teams to lose, and then they must defeat the Hornets by enough points to eclipse the point differential of every other team at 3-1.

The 3-0 teams are Miami (15.7 average point differential), Golden State (12.7), and the San Antonio Spurs (4.7), who defeated the Blazers in the first game for both teams.

But don’t stop there. Six other 2-1 teams remain in the mix, making the Blazers’ quest even more difficult.

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS VS. CHARLOTTE HORNETS

What: Trail Blazers (2-1) vs. Hornets (2-1), 8 p.m., Friday.

Where: Cox Pavilion, Las Vegas.

Radio: None.

TV channel: Root Sports (in Portland: Comcast 734; DirecTV: 687) and Root Sports PLUS (in Portland: Comcast 1253; DirecTV: 688).

Watch live stream online, or watch streaming on demand: If you don’t have cable, you can watch summer league games live with Fubo (free trial). If you don’t have cable, or are out of free trials, but the best way to watch most NBA Summer League game this month by signing up for ESPN Plus. ESPN’s streaming service is only $11/month and every game of NBA Summer League is being played in July. You can find out how to get ESPN Plus on your TV with our ESPN+ streaming guide.

You can also watch games with DirecTV Stream (free trial) if you simply prefer that platform and their pricing plans. If you already have cable, you can also watch games streaming live on Watch ESPN with your cable or satellite provider login information.

Find what channel ESPN networks or NBA TV is on in your area with our channel finder: Verizon Fios, AT&T U-verse, Comcast / Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, Cox, DIRECTV, Dish.

NEXT UP

The Blazers will play a fifth summer league game, playoffs or not, this weekend. Opponent, time and day will be determined if the Blazers are eliminated from the playoffs.

-- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)