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Game Example #9 – Timberwolves vs. Trailblazers
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Game Example #9 – Timberwolves vs. Trailblazers

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Portland Trailblazers
Date: November 8, 2024
Time: 8:00 PM CST
Location: Target center
Television coverage: FanDuel Sports Network North
Radio coverage: Wolves App/iHeart Radio

It’s time for the Minnesota Timberwolves to show they’re officially done with the roller coaster. After an explosive fourth quarter that propelled the Wolves over the Chicago Bulls last night, Minnesota returns to Target Center for the second night of a back-to-back, this time against the Portland Trail Blazers. This matchup marks the third game in a series of seven that on paper should be nothing more than a formality for Minnesota. Wolves got off to a bumpy start to this ‘easy’ stretch, dropping a tough ask to Spurs, but have since bounced back with wins over the Hornets and Bulls.

This matchup against Portland offers the Wolves a chance to record their first real winning streak of the season – and I’m talking more than back-to-back wins here. Let’s aim for a legitimate three-game series, hopefully even more. Given Portland’s youth and lack of depth, the Wolves have no excuse for anything less than a convincing win. Sure, they’re playing with tired legs after a hard-fought battle in Chicago, but the Blazers aren’t exactly coming in fresh either, traveling to Minnesota after a loss to San Antonio. So we have both teams on the second night of a back-to-back, but the Wolves have the deeper lineup and arguably the better talent at each position. Anything less than a win would be downright disappointing.

That said, we’ve learned that nothing with the Wolves is ever as simple as it seems. We saw it against San Antonio, where the crazy travel schedule may have taken its toll, but the Wolves still couldn’t bring the energy. Against Charlotte, they looked like they were coasting through the first half before finally flipping the switch in the third quarter, ultimately turning the game into a 30-point blowout. And last night in Chicago? It was again a story of two halves. Early on, the Wolves struggled defensively, allowing the Bulls to get what they wanted at the rim and from deep. It looked like another game that could slip through their fingers, especially when the Bulls extended the lead to 13 points. But then came the fourth quarter: a 45-point explosion, the highest offensive output in a single quarter for any NBA team this season. Anthony Edwards decided enough was enough and took over, draining threes, driving to the hoop and leaving no doubt about the outcome of the game.

Now let’s not ignore the fact that the Bulls came up against the Mavericks on their own, and fatigue might have played a role in their late-game collapse. The shots that were falling early started to rattle in the fourth, and the Wolves’ increased defensive pressure certainly didn’t help. But the Wolves can’t count on the Blazers to fold just because they’re tired. They’ll have to hit the gas early and delay this game before the Blazers even have a chance to catch their breath. If they play like they did in the first half against Chicago, they’ll be setting themselves up for an unnecessary dogfight.

Here’s the deal: After a 3-3 start, this stretch of ‘winnable’ games is a chance for the Wolves to build some serious momentum. We’re talking three games against Portland and a home game against Miami in between. If they take care of business, there’s no reason why they can’t be at 9-3 after this stretch. And playing .750 ball through mid-November would put the Wolves right where they need to be, especially given the early season growing pains with new additions like Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.

This is what championship-caliber teams do: they take their cases against the teams they are expected to beat. The difference between a top-three seed in April and a five or six seed (or worse, a play-in spot) comes down to situations like this. With the Western Conference on a roll – Phoenix, OKC and Golden State are already quite at 7-1 – there is no room for error whatsoever. In the East you have Cleveland and Boston as the only teams above .500. Meanwhile, 50-50 ball doesn’t even guarantee you a play-in spot in the West.

So it’s time for a bowel examination. The Wolves need to put on their big boy pants, bring the intensity and show they are here to play every night. Weeks one and two were about finding chemistry and adjusting to new players. But at this point there are no more excuses. It’s either win tonight or look back in April and wonder where it all went wrong.