Monday evening, the Portland Trail Blazers head to the Target Center for a road meeting against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Blazers outlasted the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday. The Timberwolves were eliminated by the Sacramento Kings. Tip-off is at 8:10 p.m. ET. Minnesota opens as a home favorite.
Blazers beat Grizzlies
Portland surged back from trailing by thirteen points in the final nine minutes to force overtime, beating the Memphis Grizzlies 107-100. Anfernee Simons scored 30 points, including a late burst. Jabari Walker finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Toumani Camara added 15 points to help Portland sweep the two-game set after winning the opener 122-92 on Friday night.
Ashton Hagans finished with 13 points and eight assists, while Dalano Banton scored eight of his 10 points in overtime. “I knew coming into the game we were going to have to do everything we could.” Portland coach Chauncey Billups said. “You beat a team like that…at home, they’re going to come out and hit. You throw every punch they can, and they did.”
After scoring just seven points in Friday’s win over the Grizzlies, Simons bounced back in a big way in the rematch. He scored his first 30-point game since Jan. 26, when he lost 40 with the Spurs. With Jerami Grant leaving Saturday’s game at halftime with a sore quad, Simons’ scoring ability will be crucial if the Blazers forward misses time. They play in one of the best clubs in the West.
Wolves back to back
Minnesota is at home Sunday night against the Los Angeles Clippers and will play the back-to-back for this game. Friday night, they came up short at home against the visiting Sacramento Kings, losing 124-120. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota’s leading scorer, had 11 points in the first half but did not play after halftime for personal reasons, according to team officials. Jaden McDaniels led the Timberwolves with 26 points.
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 19 points, Reid 18 points and Rudy Gobert 16 points and 16 rebounds. “A lot of times we’ve done a great job defensively, and then they get these rebounds, they get a kick-out 3, and it hurts,” Gobert said. “Instead of (we) being able to get a stop, they get a wide open shot.” For the second consecutive game, the Wolves dug themselves a hole early. Two nights after falling behind Memphis 14-0, Minnesota started 1 of 4 with three turnovers on its first seven possessions. Meanwhile, the Kings made four of their first six 3-point attempts and took an 18-4 lead. Edwards missed the game for the birth of his child, and he is listed as probable for this game against the Blazers.
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Rating:
The Wolves traded for star center Rudy Gobert last season and had mixed results as they struggled to solidify offensively. This season, the situation has been different for the Wolves, leaders of the Western Conference. The veteran center recorded his 41st double-double of the season in 58 games, placing him fifth in the NBA in this category behind Domantas Sabonis (55), Nikola Jokic (49), Anthony Davis (47) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (47). . . Gobert also recorded multiple blocks for the fifth straight game and ninth time in his last 12 games, and during this latest stretch he averaged 14.8 points, 13.3 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.3 assists while shooting 66.3 percent from the floor. Portland will be crushed inside and the Wolves will win and cover the spread easily.
Prediction: Minnesota Timberwolves ATS
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Rating:
Jerami Grant, Portland’s second-leading scorer, left the game against the Grizzlies and did not return. The injury appears relatively minor, but Portland tends to be cautious with its veterans. With Grant sidelined, Portland could lean more on players such as Jabari Walker and Matisse Thybulle, and the door opens for Anfernee Simons to make unlimited shots. I expect Gobert and Towns to control the paint, limiting second chance opportunities and easy buckets for a weak Blazers team. Both clubs are bottom 10 in terms of pace heading into this Western Conference encounter. Grab the bottom with confidence.
Prediction: UNDER
