The absence of Minnesota Timberwolves players Anthony Edwards, Mike Conley Jr., and Julius Randle due to various injuries on Saturday night was a gift for the Portland Trail Blazers.
However, the Blazers were unable to capitalize, losing 114-98 at the Target Center after blowing a 13-point halftime lead and fading in a terrible fourth quarter.
Minnesota struggled to score for three quarters against the Blazers defense, which leads the NBA and has won ten of their last eleven games, despite missing three players who combined for an average of 54 points per game.
That changed in the fourth quarter, when the Blazers went 3 of 22 (13.6%) from the field and committed five turnovers, while the Timberwolves shot 65%.
Despite shooting 3 of 11 from three-point range, Anfernee Simons led the Blazers with 21 points. Collectively, the Blazers made 7 of 35 long-range shots, or 20% of the total.
Jerami Grant made 0 of 6 from beyond the arc but scored 15 points. Shaedon Sharpe scored 14 points after coming off the bench, although he only made 1 of 6 shots from beyond the arc.
Naz Reid scored 23 points, while Jaden McDaniels led Minnesota with 30 points.
The Blazers fell behind by nine points after making only one of nine three-point attempts in the opening quarter, but they came back to trail just 24–22 going into the second quarter.
On Saturday, February 8, 2025, in Minneapolis, Toumani Camara, a forward for the Portland Trail Blazers, dribbles while Nickeil Alexander-Walker, a guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game. (Photo by Ellen Schmidt/AP) APAP
Portland led 60-47 at the half after starting the second quarter with an 18-5 run to take a 40-29 lead.
The Blazers went on a run and led 84-76 with one quarter left after the Timberwolves made a comeback in the third quarter, closing the gap to 75-71.
With 6:47 left, Minnesota led 93-91 after a 16-7 surge to start the fourth quarter. The Blazers were then outscored 21-7 by Minnesota for the remainder of the game.
IMPORTANCE OF IT
The Blazers, who are 23-30, cannot afford to miss too many chances, like they did on Saturday. They were two games out of tenth place in the Western Conference going into the second day.
The Timberwolves (30-23) knotted the season series at 2-2 after suffering two losses in Portland in November.
On Saturday, February 8, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (00) attempts a shot against Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III during the first half of an NBA basketball game. (Photo by Ellen Schmidt/AP) APAP
INJURED ROBERT WILLIAMS III
After suffering a right knee injury in the second quarter, Blazers center Robert Williams III departed the game and never came back. Williams missed 76 games last season due to a right knee ailment.
In less than eight minutes, Williams scored six points and pulled down four rebounds.
UPCOMING
The Blazers will play the Denver Nuggets on Monday at 5 p.m. again on Wednesday at the same time.
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Aaron J. Fentress | [email protected]|@AaronJFentress (Facebook), @AaronFentress (Instagram), and @AaronJFentress (Twitter)
