The Wolves start NBA Cup play with a nasty loss to the Blazers

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said his team “made almost every mistake you have to make” to blow an eight-point lead late in Sunday’s loss to the Miami Heat. Turnovers, disjointed offense and defensive breakdowns were a theme.

Tuesday night’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers started the same way. The Wolves turned it over seven times in the first quarter alone and quickly fell behind by double digits. The mistakes continued, the offense couldn’t find a rhythm and they couldn’t put a stop together defensively in a 122-108 loss to the Blazers at the Moda Center in Portland.

To make matters worse, Tuesday night’s game was the Timberwolves’ first group stage game in the NBA Cup, the league’s annual season tournament that began last season. And the Blazers weren’t at full strength. Starting big man Deandre Ayton was ruled out with a sprained finger and guard Anfernee Simons left in the first quarter and did not return.

That didn’t stop Portland from controlling Tuesday night’s contest from start to finish.

The Trail Blazers (4-8) entered Tuesday’s game fresh off an embarrassing 134-89 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday and were motivated out of the gates. Portland is a team that has struggled in the first quarter, scoring only around 20 points per possession. game in the opening frame, but they capitalized on Wolves turnovers to lead 28-17 after 12 minutes.

Against the Heat, the Wolves (6-5) nearly matched a season-high 19 turnovers as a team. On Tuesday, they set a new season high with 21 giveaways. They shot a strong 51%, but the turnover resulted in 25 points for the Trail Blazers.

The Wolves were outmuscled on the glass and lost the rebounding battle 39-32. Once again, they struggled to give up offensive rebounds as the Trail Blazers grabbed 11 of their own misses. The defensive intensity just wasn’t there.

The entire Trail Blazers roster were the recipients. Seven Portland players finished in double figures, led by Jeremi Grant’s 21. Robert Williams III had 19 points and nine rebounds off the bench, Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avidja — who hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer late in the third quarter — finished with 17 points each.

Scoot Henderson and Toumani Camara each scored 14. Dalano Banton added another 12 off the bench.

Naz Reid shined off the bench for Minnesota, scoring 28 points on 10-for-17 shooting. But the rest of the bench, which has been a strength for the Wolves this year, was nowhere to be found. Donte DiVincenzo had more turnovers (4) than points (3). Nickeil Alexander-Walker had eight points and three steals, but also had a pair of turnovers.

The Blazers bench outscored the Wolves bench 64-39.

The starter unit was no better. Julius Randle, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert each had four turnovers. McDaniels otherwise had a solid all-around game with 17 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks. Anthony Edwards finished with 26 points on 8-for-19 shooting, including 4 for 10 from 3-point range, and had just one turnover.

But in the end, the Wolves didn’t come to play Tuesday night. They fell behind from the start and the Blazers took advantage of their early mistakes. Certainly not the start they were looking for in their first NBA Cup game.

They quickly get a chance to flush it out. The two teams meet again at 21 Wednesday night in Portland.