Preview #9 – Timberwolves vs. Trailblazers

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Portland Trailblazers
Date: 8 November 2024
Time: 20:00 CST
Location: Target center
TV coverage: FanDuel Sports Network North
Radio Coverage: Wolves App/iHeart Radio

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

This game against Portland gives the Wolves a chance to get their first real winning streak of the season – and I’m talking about more than back-to-back wins here. Let’s aim for a legit three game streak, 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 are playing on tired legs after a tough game in Chicago, but the Blazers aren’t exactly fresh either – they travel 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 easy as it seems. We saw it against San Antonio, where the crazy schedule might have taken a toll, but the Wolves still failed to bring the energy. Against Charlotte, they looked like they were going to coast through the first half before finally switching on the switch in the third quarter, eventually turning the game into a 30-point blowout. And last night in Chicago? It was another tale of two halves. Early on, the Wolves struggled defensively and let the Bulls get what they wanted on the rim and from deep. It looked like another game that could slip through the cracks, especially as the Bulls stretched their lead to 13 points. But then came the fourth quarter — a 45-point explosion that was the most offensive output in a single quarter by 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 were coming off their own back-to-back against the Mavericks, and fatigue could have played a role in their late game collapse. Those shots that fell 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 will need to hit the gas early and put this game away before the Blazers even have a chance to catch their breath. If they play around like they did in the first half against Chicago, they set up 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 matchups against Portland and a home game against Miami sandwiched in between. If they take care of business, there’s no reason they can’t sit 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 of new additions like Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.

This is what championship-caliber teams do — they handle their business against the teams they’re supposed 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 stretches like this. With the Western Conference stacked – Phoenix, OKC and Golden State already sitting pretty at 7-1 – there is zero room for error. Out east, you have Cleveland and Boston as the only teams over .500. Meanwhile, 50-50 ball doesn’t even guarantee you a play-in spot out west.

So it’s time for a gut check. 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 all about finding chemistry and adjusting to new players. But at this point, there are no more excuses. It’s win tonight or look back in April and wonder where it all went wrong.