Portland @ Minnesota preview
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Last Meeting ( Mar 4, 2024 ) Portland 114, Minnesota 119
The Minnesota Timberwolves will go for their third win in a row when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night in Minneapolis.
Minnesota rallied for a wild 135-119 road win against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night. The Timberwolves outscored the Bulls 45-24 in the fourth quarter to earn the comeback victory.
All five Timberwolves starters plus sixth man Donte DiVincenzo scored in double digits, led by Anthony Edwards with a game-high 33 points to go along with eight rebounds and six assists. Julius Randle finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Mike Conley also had a double-double (14 points, 11 assists).
Next comes a matchup with Portland, which also will play on short rest after losing 118-105 on the road against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night. Jerami Grant and Deandre Ayton scored 21 points apiece to lead the Trail Blazers, and Anfernee Simons added 19.
Portland has lost three of its past four games and six of nine to start the season.
One bright spot for the Trail Blazers was the return of guard Shaedon Sharpe, who made his season debut on Thursday. Sharpe missed the first eight games of the season because of a left shoulder injury.
Against the Spurs, Sharpe finished with 13 points on 6-for-9 shooting. He played 20 minutes off the bench, and that number could climb as he gets into game shape.
"I thought Shaedon played really well," Portland coach Chauncey Billups said. "He looked very comfortable."
The Trail Blazers know that a trip to Minnesota could be anything but comfortable. The Timberwolves have won five of eight to start the season after reach the Western Conference finals last spring.
Minnesota big man Rudy Gobert said he and Edwards are focusing on being more effective in the pick-and-roll game this season. Gobert has frequently set screens for Edwards, rolled toward the rim and caught a pass for a high-percentage shot.
"We've been working," Gobert said. "Every year, his playmaking has gotten better and better. This is the year where I feel like he's really about to see what is happening on the floor, and he's really confident in making those (plays).
"Whether it's the bounce pass or whether it's the lob, he's able to make those passes. So, it's just on me to get him open and then get open and finish the play and make the right play."
On the other end of the court, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch is looking to see more consistency from his team.
"The on-ball (defense) compete and contain, that's where we were elite last year and we've been patchy this year," Finch said. "It starts with Jaden (McDaniels) and Anthony in particular, and then Rudy at the rim. Those three, that's the triangle of our defense."
The Timberwolves won all four games they played against the Trail Blazers a season ago. In the most recent contest, Gobert led Minnesota with 25 points and 16 rebounds in a 119-114 victory at Minneapolis on March 4. Simons was Portland's top scorer with 34 points.
--Field Level Media