The Portland Trail Blazers stunned the Minnesota Timberwolves, securing a 122-108 victory in an NBA Cup matchup on Tuesday night.
The win marked an impressive performance from the Blazers, who shot 56% from beyond the arc, much to the dismay of the Timberwolves.
Portland’s Robert Williams and Jerami Grant were the standout performers, each contributing 19 points. Williams, recently returning from a knee injury, added nine rebounds and three assists, while Grant’s 21 points and eight assists helped propel the Blazers to the win.
The Timberwolves were led by Naz Reid, who scored a game-high 28 points, while Anthony Edwards added 26 points. However, Minnesota’s efforts fell short as they struggled to keep up with Portland’s fast-paced offense.
Portland’s shooting efficiency was key in the win. Despite entering the game as the second-worst 3-point shooting team in the league, the Blazers made an astonishing 18 out of 32 attempts from deep.
Dalano Banton’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the first quarter set the tone for what would be a thrilling contest.
The Timberwolves fell behind early, with Portland leading 28-17 after the first quarter. The Blazers, despite losing Anfernee Simons to a chest injury and seeing Scoot Henderson pick up early fouls, managed to sustain their momentum throughout the game.
Minnesota, who had already suffered a tough loss to the Miami Heat on Sunday, struggled with consistency.
Portland was also dominant off the bench, outscoring Minnesota 64-39 in bench points. This depth proved to be a significant advantage, with key contributions from Deni Avdija, who scored 17 points, and Robert Williams, who provided a double-digit scoring effort in just 25 minutes of play.
The Blazers’ defense was equally impressive, with Donovan Clingan making his first career start and contributing with a block and a steal early in the game.
- The Timberwolves were dominated on the boards, as Portland grabbed 39 rebounds compared to Minnesota’s 32.
- Portland’s bench was pivotal, outscoring Minnesota 64-39.
Portland’s win was highlighted by timely shots and strong team play, as they secured a much-needed victory in the NBA Cup. With this win, the Blazers improve their record to 4-8, while the Timberwolves drop to 6-5.
