The Portland Trail Blazers visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, March 20, at Target Center in a matchup shaped heavily by injuries on both sides.
Portland enters the game short-handed, with Damian Lillard ruled out due to left Achilles injury management and Shaedon Sharpe sidelined with a left fibula stress reaction.
Deni Avdija has carried that load, averaging 24.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.7 assists, while operating as the primary initiator.
The Trail Blazers’ injury report also includes Vit Krejci as questionable with a calf contusion, while multiple two-way and G League players Caleb Love and Hansen Yang remain unavailable.
Minnesota faces its own major absence, with Anthony Edwards ruled out due to right knee inflammation. Edwards leads the team with 29.5 points per game, and his scoring gravity is central to the Timberwolves’ half-court offense.
Without Edwards, Minnesota leans more heavily on Julius Randle, who is averaging 21.2 points and 5.1 assists.
Naz Reid is listed as questionable with a right ankle sprain, which could further impact frontcourt spacing and scoring. Reid averages 13.7 points while shooting 37.3% from three.
Two-way players Enrique Freeman and Rocco Zikarsky are both listed as out.
Minnesota has dominated the season series, winning all three prior meetings, including a 133-109 win in February.
