Blazers Battle Valiantly, Fall in Heartbreaker to Timberwolves

SB Nation

The Portland Trail Blazers faced a stiff test in the opening game of their 2025-26 season, welcoming the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Moda Center in a Western Conference battle. Portland played fast,

hard, and with energetic abandon, foiling Minnesota’s superior halfcourt offense by not letting the game slow down. It was like one team took the ballroom floor trying to waltz while the other ran the 100-meter hurdles.

When the music ended, Minnesota walked away with a 118-114 victory. It was a hard-fought loss for Portland, narrow and excruciating, made all the more painful by the effort put into it. But it was a hopeful sign nonetheless for the young Blazers. Their opponent was substantial. The final margin of four points was the largest the deficit ever got. That’s something.

Player of Note

Anyone who worried about Jerami Grant going to the bench to start the season might as well have worried about Popeye eating spinach or Mr. Krabs making money. Grant dominated, making 4-7 three-pointers, shooting 10-14 from the field, and scoring 29. If this keeps up, the Blazers are going to need WWE-style entrance music for him. He was a larger-than-life superhero tonight.

Stat of the Night

Minnesota shot 48.8% from the field and 50.0% from the three-point arc, obliterating Portland’s numbers. This should have been a blowout. But…check just below.

What We Noticed

Last year Portland’s offense looked like Herbie the Love Bug. In this game, it was pure Fast and Furious. The Blazers attempted 90 shots, 42 threes, and 35 foul shots. The incessant barrage kept them in it even when the ‘Wolves were hot.

The attack was aided and abetted by forced turnovers out of scrambling defense. Portland harassed Minnesota into 19 miscues. That kept the Blazers in the game against an opponent that hard, arguably, the best two players on the floor.