The Minnesota Timberwolves knocked off the Portland Trail Blazers tonight, outlasting their hosts 124-121. Leading scorer for the ‘Wolves was Anthony Edwards with 34 points. Jrue Holiday topped the Blazers with 22. The game was hotly contested all the way until the final few minutes, when the wheels came off for the Blazers. Following are a few observations from the game:
Overcoming a Tough Start
The Timberwolves ripped through the first half tonight, led by All-Star Anthony Edwards and versatile Jaden McDaniels. The Ant Man
scored 25 points in the first 24 minutes. McDaniels came through with 13 points and 5 blocks, and the team hit 53% from the field and 48% from outside.
The Blazers were only down by three at the half, thanks to double-digit efforts from Jerami Grant, Kris Murray, Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson. And a 14-6 advantage at the free-throw line might have helped a little.
And Then There Was One
One thing Donovan Clingan knew for sure when this game started: he was getting no big-guy help in his faceoff with Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert. Duop Reath is long gone, Yang Hansen is playing with the G League Rip City Remix, and Robert Williams III showed up with a bad wheel. That left Clingan as the last man standing. The final numbers indicated a standstill between the centers. Points went 11-10 to Donovan, rebounds 19-15 for Gobert, and blocks were tied 2-2. But Gobert won the final few minutes and so did his team.
Ant Can’t Do It Alone
Anthony Edwards is a load, but in this game he couldn’t carry his team alone. After a 25-point first half that had the national broadcasters calling for a 50-point game during the halftime show, Edwards had a stretch with nine straight missed shots and added only 9 points in the second half.
What’s Up With Jrue?
Anyone trying to keep an eye on Jrue Holiday lately probably needs an eye exam right now. One minute he’s making a mind-blowing play, the next a mind-numbing turnover. Tonight he provided some of both. His 22 points came on 9 for 17 field goal shooting, 2 for 4 three-pointers, and 2 for 2 free throws. He added 4 assists and 5 turnovers. The turnovers definitely hurt, but they were not all the same. Some seemed to be the result of a handle not quite tight enough, some more related to players not quite familiar enough with each other. What does this all mean? Final answer coming as this stretch run concludes, so stay tuned.
And Then There Was Scoot
Meanwhile, Scoot Henderson painted his own picture tonight: 19 points, 7 of 18 field goals, 1 for 6 on threes, 4 of 4 free throws, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 turnovers. He also played persistent defense. It was another mixed bag at the point guard position statistically. The eye test? He played hard enough to belong in the middle of a fracas like this one.
Up Next
The Blazers head out of town for the next five games, starting Thursday against the Bulls in Chicago. Game time is 5:00 p.m. Pacific.
