Ziaire Williams #8 of the Memphis Grizzlies guards Rudy Gobert #27 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first quarter at Target Center on February 28, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. ((Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images))
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – In the words of Chris Finch, Monday night’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers was the one the Minnesota Timberwolves needed to play.
It was their fifth game in seven nights and the end of a seven-game home stretch that included three straight games. It wasn’t a pretty start, but Rudy Gobert made sure the Timberwolves went home with a 119-114 win over the Trail Blazers at Target Center. Minnesota is back atop the Western Conference at 43-19, 23-8 on home court and 20-5 against teams below .500 this season.
The Timberwolves finished the home game 4-3, and those three losses came by a total of 10 points. Gobert had 25 points and 16 rebounds Monday night, shooting 9 of 10 from the field and 7 of 7 from the free throw line.
Mike Conley Jr. added 19 points and seven assists as the Timberwolves had six players in double figures. Karl-Anthony Towns had 14 points and four rebounds, and Anthony Edwards had 13 points, four rebounds and six assists, coming off the bench. You read correctly. With other starters on the field ready for the first tip, Edwards was still back in the locker room and had lost track of time. Finch had no choice but to take Nickeil Alexander-Walker to the ground in his place.
Anfernee Simons led Portland with 34 points.
The Timberwolves aren’t without their flaws, but they got the win they needed to get and now begin a 20-game sprint to finish the regular season.
Minnesota begins a six-game road trip against the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night. The Timberwolves won’t be back at Target Center until March 19 against the Denver Nuggets.
