Seriously short-handed wolves rally from 15-point deficit to beat trail blazers

Minnesota Timberwolves were not exactly treated the best hand.

They played their third match on four nights and down Anthony Edwards (hip) and Mike Conley (Finger) in addition to still being without Julius Randle (groin) and Divine Divincenzo (Toe). And not only was Wolves seriously short -handed, they played one of the hottest teams in the NBA in the Portland Trail Blazers. A time of time if there was ever one.

Despite all the hardship and a bad shooting night from 3-point reach and free the Castle Line-managed Wolves to overcome a 15-point deficit and beat the Trail Blazers 114-98 Saturday night at Target Center in Minneapolis.

“Proud of the guys. One of my favorite gains of the year, no doubt about it,” said Timberwolves -coach Chris Finch. “Everyone played well, came in and fought. Even when we couldn’t score, and things went against us, I liked the spirit of the team. And another really Lockdown fourth quarter.”

The wolves (30-23) dominated Trail Blazers (23-30) in the fourth quarter and outscored them 38-14. Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels were the drivers of the comeback. Reid scored 10 of his 23 points in the final frame, and McDaniels scored 10 of his gaming and career highs in the third quarter when Minnesota began chopping the deficit.

McDaniels scored 30 points on 12-for-17 shooting, and he also added 10 rebounds, four assists and one stealing. He only tried a 3 – a miss – and had just a single revenue. It was an incredibly effective and aggressive performance.

“I really just took what the defense gives me,” McDaniels said. “I went under screens and I just used my touch.”

The deficit was gone midway through the fourth quarter, and it suddenly turned into a double -digit lead with just over two minutes left when a steal from Reid led to a transitional lineup for McDaniels. The wolves left everything out there.

Without Edwards and Conley, Rob Dillingham started the first start of his young career. He fought early, missed several 3-Pointers in the first few minutes of the first quarter, but he eventually settled and finished with eight points and six assists. Nickeil Alexander-Walker started instead of Edwards and ended with 21 points, six assists and five rebounds.

“(Dillingham) really got off after a tough start,” Finch said. “I was happy about it. He played kind of super aggressive to try to get himself started, which we need him to do. And then when we put him back in the fourth we just needed a few minutes of defense from him, and he found that.

Jaylen Clark, who wasn’t in the rotation just a week ago, served as the team’s sixth man on Saturday night. He turned out to be a defensive stalwart, including a key stage in the fourth quarter stretch, turned into a transition can for Alexander-Walker at the other end to a 100-93 lead. He finished with 11 points and made a key 3 under the comeback.

Rudy Gobert ended with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Anfee Simons led Portland with 21 points.

It was an incredibly impressive victory from a team that had everything contrary to it.