After securing a 121-109 victory against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, the Minnesota Timberwolves swiftly return to the Moda Center just two days later, aiming to conclude their fourth consecutive win on a positive note before the All-Star break.
During Tuesday’s matchup, the Blazers surprised with their energetic tempo and swift ball movement, setting an early tone. Portland, despite ranking 24th in pace this season with a rating of 98.3, only two spots ahead of Minnesota, boasts a lineup filled with agile guards and a long, athletic frontcourt capable of exhausting opponents with their fast-paced style and preventing defenses from settling into a halfcourt setup. Furthermore, the Blazers rank fourth in opponent turnovers per game (14.6) and ninth in steals (7.7), highlighting one of their notable strengths amidst their season performance.
To control the pace of the game, one effective strategy is to push the ball inside, which is exactly what the Timberwolves did at the start of Thursday night’s match. They quickly scored 15 points within the first three and a half minutes, making 6 out of 7 shots overall, with 5 out of 6 coming from inside the paint and all 4 attempts within the restricted area successful. This exploit was particularly effective against the Blazers, who concede the third-highest number of points in the paint per game in the NBA (55.1) and allow opponents to shoot the second-highest percentage at the rim (70.6%). The Timberwolves capitalized on their size and speed to penetrate inside, effectively neutralizing the Blazers’ defense.
The atmosphere at the Moda Center never had a chance to ignite as the first quarter progressed. The Timberwolves dominated the Blazers, resembling a varsity team playing against sixth graders. By the time there were 2 minutes and 46 seconds left in the first quarter, the Timberwolves had made 14 of 19 shots (73.7% shooting) and boasted an offensive rating of 185, while the Blazers struggled, shooting 5 of 19 (26.3%) with a paltry offensive rating of 55 and only 11 points scored.
Despite the impending All-Star break, Minnesota’s performance early in the game showcased both a potent offense and tenacious defense
As Michael Grady often mentions, Anthony Edwards displayed determination and focus throughout the game. He scored 13 points within the first 12 minutes, making 5 out of 8 attempts. Edwards also contributed significantly with a +30 rating. To put this in perspective, the Blazers managed only 14 points as a team during that time.
Edwards’ scoring spree established a dominant tone from the beginning, as the Wolves achieved a season-high of 44 points in the first quarter and held a commanding 30-point lead, marking the second-highest point differential for the first quarter in the NBA this season.
Around 9:07 remaining in the second quarter, a live microphone near Minnesota’s bench captured a voice urging the team not to slack off, indicating a momentary lapse in their performance. The Blazers capitalized on this opportunity, embarking on a 10-2 run as both Edwards and Jaden McDaniels took a brief rest on the bench. Jerami Grant’s impressive performance, including 13 points, equaling Edwards’ tally, injected renewed energy into the Blazers, despite their underdog status as the 14th seed in the West. This effort helped them mount a strong comeback in the second quarter, countering the Wolves’ earlier dominance.
As halftime approached, the Wolves’ once formidable 30-point lead dwindled to 15, with Portland outscoring them 37-22 in the last 12 minutes of the first half. This shift highlighted the interconnectedness of offense and defense in basketball. The Wolves struggled to convert their shots, going 7-of-22, while the Blazers capitalized on their opportunities, shooting 10-of-17. Minnesota’s missed shots enabled Portland to exploit transition plays, illustrating the unpredictable nature of basketball dynamics, as witnessed during Tuesday night’s game.
After the halftime break, I hoped that either Ant or perhaps KAT would show frustration over the second quarter’s performance and seize control of the game, while the team tightened up its defense. Unfortunately, Minnesota’s offense continued to rush, resulting in poor shot selection, and their defense remained lackluster. With 7:52 remaining in the period, the Blazers narrowed the gap to 10 points after KAT missed a pull-up three and Toumani Camara made a wide-open dunk on the other end. This prompted Finch to call a timeout to halt the Blazers’ momentum.