The Portland Trail Blazers return to Moda Center tonight to host the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Blazers will be without Deni Avdija who is resting a sore back.
The ‘Wolves’ rocky season continued Sunday, when Minnesota got blown out at home by Philadelphia. Still, Minnesota had no trouble crushing the Blazers 133-109 in the team’s most recent matchup on Feb. 11.
On the other side of the court, the Blazers managed to overpower a shorthanded Suns squad Sunday. Portland played without Avdija and scored just 92 points. The Blazers will need to find more firepower against a healthy Minnesota team which ranks ninth in league defensive and offensive rankings.
What You Need to Know
Minnesota Timberwolves (35-23) at Portland Trail Blazers (28-30) Tues. Feb. 24 – 7pm Pacific
How to watch: Peacock
How to listen: Trail Blazers Audio Network
SB Nation Affiliate: Canis Hoopus
Trail Blazers Injuries: Deni Avdija, Damian Lillard, Shaedon Sharpe, Caleb Love, Yang Hansen (Out)
Timberwolves injuries: Naz Reid (Questionable).
Kit: The Blazers will take the floor in its traditional home white Association Edition jerseys. Minnesota will wear its 0(+> purple City Edition unis.
Trail Blazers: W at UTA, L vs DEN, W at PHX
Timberwolves: W vs POR, W vs DAL, L vs PHI
Stat Leaders:
Trail Blazers: Points, Avdija (24.4 per game). Rebounds, Clingan (11.5). Assists, Avdija (6.6). Steals, Thybulle (2.3). Blocks, Clingan (1.5).Timberwolves: Points, Edwards (29.5 per game). Rebounds, Gobert (11.3). Assists, Randle (5.3). Steals, DiVincenzo (1.4). Blocks, Gobert (1.6).
Tale of the Tape
Trail Blazers: Offensive rating: 112.9 (23rd place) Defensive rating: 115.5 (18th place)
Timberwolves: Offensive rating: 116.7 (9th place) Defensive rating: 112.6 (9th place)
Storylines:
All About the Matchup
Without Avdija in the lineup Sunday night, Cling Kong took over. The Blazers big man scored 23 points, along with 13 rebounds and four blocked shots, guiding the Trail Blazers to a 92-77 victory over shorthanded Phoenix. It was a different story in a February loss to the Timberwolves. In that game, Clingan scored eight points and collected nine rebounds in 28 minutes of play. He’ll have another chance to prove himself against Minnesota center Rudy Gobert tonight.
What they are Saying:
It’s Just Not Fair
Jace Frederick of the Pioneer Press reported Gobert was suspended for Sunday’s game against Philadelphia because he exceeded the season-long allotment of flagrant foul points — for the second time.
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said it’s up to Gobert “to manage” the fouls, though both player and coach say it will be difficult. Friday’s flagrant foul was the result of Gobert flailing his arm back into the face of Mavericks big man Marvin Bagley III as the two jostled for rebounding position.
Finch thought the call was “a bit harsh.”
The $426,000 Man
76ers guard Tyrese Maxey ferociously dunked on ‘Wolves guard Anthony Edwards Sunday. It was evidence of Edwards on-again-off-again defensive effort that Britt Robinson at the Minnesota Post said is a major factor in his team’s underwhelming record.
How important is Ant’s commitment to defense, especially now that the team is in the stretch run for momentum and positioning in the playoffs?
“Absolutely. I mean this is 26 games, one-third of your season left. This is the time — he has the capacity to be the best two-way player in the league. And when he is playing that way we are a whole other team, defensively. So he has really got to lean in and lead us in that way.”
It wasn’t the first time, and won’t be the last, that Finch has hammered on this point. But once again, Ant isn’t listening.
Even so, someone just dropped $426,000 on an Edwards trading card.
Self-Inflicted Wounds
Law Murray of the Athletic ranks the ‘Wolves tenth in his latest power rankings. He says the team’s inability to get out of its own way is just silly (subscription required).
There are a lot of Timberwolves fans who feel like their team is disrespected. On one hand, Minnesota is the one team in the West that has made back-to-back conference finals appearances this decade. On the other hand, the Timberwolves can’t go two weeks without doing something silly. Rudy Gobert got himself suspended for flagrant fouls, and then the Timberwolves got themselves blown out at home on another Sunday, this time to a Philadelphia 76ers team that had spent the previous two weeks getting blown out. If this team winds up playing Game 1 of the Western Conference quarterfinals on the road, they’ll have plenty of games to look back on in regret.
Doing it the Hard Way
While Minnesota didn’t break a sweat in dispatching the Blazers in the teams’ last matchup, it’s flirting with the tough end of the bracket as squads jockey for playoff positioning.
The home loss to hapless Philly had Derek Hanson at Canis Hoopus wringing his hands.
The Timberwolves had a golden opportunity Sunday night. Denver lost. The Lakers lost. Houston stumbled. The Western Conference standings basically opened the door, rolled out a red carpet and said, “Hey Minnesota, would you like to be tied for the 3-seed?”
The first 5,000 fans through the door will receive a Yang Hansen glass. The glass will be the only version of Yang in attendance as the Blazers assigned Yang to the Rip City Remix for the night.