Timberwolves Triumph Over Trail Blazers
In a commanding performance, Julius Randle led the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 133-109 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday evening, halting Portland’s three-game winning streak. Randle’s impressive tally included 41 points along with seven rebounds, highlighted by a spectacular windmill dunk that energized the crowd at Target Center.
Key Contributions and Struggles
The Timberwolves, gearing up for the upcoming All-Star break, also saw Jaden McDaniels contribute significantly with 21 points. On the other side, Jrue Holiday was the standout for the Blazers, contributing 23 points, though his team was plagued by 25 turnovers, resulting in a tough night on the court. After trailing by as much as 28 points, Portland struggled to recover despite Scoot Henderson returning to the lineup, netting 18 points in just his third appearance since an extended absence due to a hamstring injury.
Game Highlights
Minnesota’s leading scorer, Anthony Edwards, managed 14 points despite being listed as questionable due to illness prior to the contest. Coming off a decisive 138-116 win over Atlanta that halted a two-game losing streak, the Timberwolves put together a solid first half, leading 61-51 at halftime. McDaniels’ crisp floating jumper extended their lead to 50-38 during the second quarter.
A string of consecutive three-pointers from Edwards and Randle propelled Minnesota further ahead to 73-59 in the third quarter, with Rudy Gobert‘s dunk sealing a 16-2 run that put the Timberwolves up by 20. Although the Blazers managed to cut the deficit to 96-82 by the end of the third quarter thanks to a late 10-3 run, they could not mount a successful challenge in the final period. Additionally, All-Star Deni Avdija had a quiet night with only 11 points.
Looking Ahead
The Blazers played without Shaedon Sharpe, who missed his third straight game due to a left calf strain. Looking ahead, the Trail Blazers will face the Utah Jazz on Thursday, while the Timberwolves are set to host the Dallas Mavericks on February 20.
