Minnesota @ Portland preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 1, 2019 ) Portland 132, Minnesota 122

Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers are hitting their stride as the struggling Minnesota Timberwolves arrive in town for Saturday's contest. Lillard made seven 3-pointers while scoring 36 points in Friday's 118-103 victory over the Orlando Magic for the Trail Blazers' fourth triumph in the past five games.

The Timberwolves are on the other side of the equation as they lost their ninth straight game with Friday's 109-100 road setback against the Denver Nuggets. Minnesota has played its past two games without star center Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) and he appears questionable to return on the second end of a back-to-back. Portland was one of the league's biggest disappointments when it got off to a 5-12 start but spirits are higher after the ensuing stretch of eight wins in 12 games. "It feels good to feel like we're 'supposed' to win the game," Lillard told reporters after the triumph over Orlando. "It feels like we're rolling. It's not like crazy things are happening for us to win."

TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), NBCS Northwest (Portland)

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (10-17): The team badly misses Towns' production (averages of 26.5 points and 11.7 rebounds) and competitiveness when he isn't in the lineup but Minnesota coach Ryan Saunders wants the two-time All-Star to pay attention to how his body is feeling. "As a competitor, you want to play every game and there's something wrong with you when you don't want to play or don't want more minutes," Saunders told reporters. "That's what I always tell players. But you also need to listen to your body. You need to do what's best for yourself and the group too in the long term. Karl, he's always been durable and played." Towns scored a season-best 39 points in the game he was hurt Dec. 13 against the Los Angeles Clippers.

ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (13-16): Lillard topped 30 or more points in three of the past five games and is averaging 27.6 points during the span. He was 8-of-12 from 3-point range in the first outing of the stretch but was 7-of-25 over the ensuing three games before the strong 7-of-13 effort against Orlando. "I was able to get some opportunities," Lillard said. "Once you see it go in a few times, even hard ones are good looks."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Timberwolves have dropped their last six visits to Portland.

2. Trail Blazers F Carmelo Anthony (knee) departed Friday's game and coach Terry Stotts said afterward that he wasn't sure Anthony will be available Saturday.

3. Minnesota was 10-for-42 from 3-point range in the loss to Denver.

PREDICTION: Trail Blazers 123, Timberwolves 101