Timberwolves-Trail Blazers Preview

By JORDAN GARRETSON
Posted Nov 22 2012 3:36PM

The Minnesota Timberwolves got their franchise player back ahead of schedule, and he certainly didn't disappoint.

His team did once again.

Minnesota looks for a similar performance from Kevin Love but a different result Friday, trying to avoid a fourth consecutive loss as it travels to face the Portland Trail Blazers.

Love was a surprise activation prior to Wednesday's game against Denver, though his return didn't immediately change the Timberwolves' recent fortune as they lost 101-94. The two-time All-Star came back much earlier than expected - he was supposed to miss six to eight weeks when he broke his right hand Oct. 18 - and gave Minnesota (5-5) a boost with 34 points and 14 rebounds.

"I didn't want to make a big deal about it," Love said. "I told my teammates, and they didn't really believe me. Once they saw a jersey in my locker, they believed it was true."

After missing his team's first nine games, Love wasn't at full strength though he started strong with 16 points on 7-for-12 shooting in the first quarter. He missed six free throws, shot 2 of 9 from 3-point range and often was seen flexing his injured hand.

"I haven't even practiced, so I just kind of threw myself into the game hoping something good was going to happen," Love said. "I missed some free throws, missed some 3s that I don't usually miss."

Still, his scoring and rebounding totals were more than any teammate tallied in either category all season as the Timberwolves lost their third straight - all at home - following a 5-2 start.

J.J. Barea and Nikola Pekovic both returned from more minor injuries and were Love's only teammates to score in double figures with 12 and 10, respectively. Pekovic (14.6 per game) and Andrei Kirilenko (13.4) have been the leading scorers for Minnesota, which is still missing Ricky Rubio, Brandon Roy and Chase Budinger due to knee problems.

"You've got to be able to go to other players rather than just him (Love)," coach Rick Adelman said.

Portland (5-6) had won three straight before committing a season-high 22 turnovers in a 114-87 loss at Phoenix on Wednesday. The Trail Blazers let the Suns hit 59.7 percent from the field and are allowing a league-worst 50.1 for the season.

That's far from the only area in which they've had trouble.

Their bench is the worst in the NBA at 12.8 points per game, and no team in the last 25 years has averaged fewer than 18.0 in a season. Portland has been outscored in the paint in all but one game, including 54-24 by the Suns.

"That is a strength of theirs and not necessarily our strength so I did probably anticipate a differential but not 30," coach Terry Stotts said. "It's not all effort. It's being mentally engaged."

The Trail Blazers had won 16 in a row in this series before losing the first two meetings last season. They did win the most recent matchup, 119-106 on April 1 as LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum combined for 50 points. That duo was held to a total of 25 in Wednesday's loss.

Love averaged 32.3 points in last season's three meetings. His 42 points in Portland on March 3 helped give Minnesota its only win in its last 13 trips there.

Matthews helps Blazers top Timberwolves 103-95

Posted Nov 24 2012 12:01PM

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Wesley Matthews has been waiting for a game like this.

Matthews had a season-high 30 points, rookie Damian Lillard had a career-high 28 points and eight assists and the Portland Trail Blazers sent the Minnesota Timberwolves to their fourth straight defeat with a 103-95 win Saturday night.

J.J. Hickson had 14 points and 13 rebounds, returning from a shoulder injury for Portland, which has won four of its last five games. LaMarcus Aldridge had 13 points and sat for stretches in foul trouble. Matthews made five of the Blazers' 11 3s.

Matthews has been steady but not spectacular for Portland this season, averaging 17.3 points while leading the Blazers in 3-point shooting at 44 percent. His previous season high was 22 points.

"There haven't been too many games where I could really just let go - it felt really good," Matthews said.

Love had 24 points and 13 rebounds in his second game back for Minnesota, which is 1-5 after winning three of its first four this season. Nikola Pekovic had 18 points and 10 rebounds and Luke Ridnour added 14 points for the Wolves.

Portland never looked back after going on a 13-0 run that started just before the end of the third quarter. The Blazers led 88-78 at the end of that run and went up 95-84 after Matthews hit a 3-pointer with 6:16 remaining.

"Wes Matthews and Lillard . they just couldn't miss. It's as easy as that," Love said.

This first matchup of the season between the teams was highly anticipated on several fronts. It was supposed to mark a Portland homecoming for former Blazers star Brandon Roy, who came out of retirement to join the Wolves this season but is out after having knee surgery Monday.

Love is still popular in Portland, where he grew up and attended high school. And Minnesota general manager David Kahn, coach Rick Adelman and much of Adelman's staff have strong ties to the city. Kahn signed Portland's Nicolas Batum to an offer sheet in the offseason, forcing the Blazers to match the four-year, $44 million offer to keep the fifth-year Frenchman. Batum finished with nine points and five assists, shooting just 3-of-10 from the field, while fighting flu-like symptoms.

Love made his season debut Wednesday in the Wolves 101-94 loss against Denver, coming back early after suffering a broken hand doing pushups Oct. 18. He had a huge game, with 34 points and 14 rebounds against the Nuggets.

Portland had a three-game winning streak snapped in a 114-87 loss at Phoenix Wednesday night. The Blazers committed 22 turnovers in what was arguably the team's worst performance of the season. They had just 12 turnovers on Saturday.

"I think it's important for us that how we play is important," Portland coach Terry Stotts said. "Sometimes it's not going to be defined by a box score or winning a certain category. It's just playing with a rhythm on the offensive end and with a certain amount of intensity and grit on the defensive end."

Minnesota led 41-28 after starting off the second quarter with an 8-0 run and they led 55-50 at the half. But Portland chipped away at the advantage, shooting 61 percent in the third and pulled ahead 71-69 near the end of the quarter.

"We just didn't defend them well enough," Adelman said. "They shot the hell out of the ball, and we didn't finish plays at the basket."

Notes: Former NBA star Gary Payton and professional wrestler Rowdy Roddy Piper were in attendance. . Minnesota had lost 16 in a row to the Blazers before taking two of three in the series last season. . Love is averaging 30.3 points in his last four games against Portland. . The Blazers won't be back at the Rose Garden for 15 days. Portland plays its next seven games on the road, all against Eastern Conference teams.

Notebook: Trail Blazers 103, Timberwolves 95

Kerry Eggers, For NBA.com
Posted Sat Nov 24, 2012 1:49 AM - Updated Sat Nov 24, 2012 1:49 AM

THE FACTS: Portland guards Wesley Matthews and Damian Lillard were too much for Minnesota Friday night, combining for 58 points in the Blazers' 103-95 victory over the Timberwolves Friday night at the Rose Garden. Matthews scored a season-high 30 points and Lillard added 28 for the Trail Blazers (6-6), who begin a seven-game road trip Sunday at Brooklyn. Kevin Love had 24 points and 13 rebounds for the Timberwolves (5-6), who lost their fourth straight game.

QUOTABLE: "I saw an intensity in our guys' [faces] about how important [defense] was. I've seen it in spots this season, but the second half, we sustained it for a long period of time."

-- Portland coach Terry Stotts

THE STAT: Portland entered the game last in the NBA in opponents' scoring (102.9 points per game) and field-goal percentage (50 percent). Minnesota shot 41 percent for the game to the Blazers' 53 percent. Over the final three quarters, the Timberwolves scored 62 points and shot 20-for-57 (35 percent).

TURNING POINT: The game was tied 78-78 late in the third quarter when Portland's Nicolas Batum sank a 3-pointer just before the buzzer. That kicked off a 10-0 Blazer run and the Timberwolves never got closer than six the rest of the way.

QUOTABLE II: "We just didn't defend well enough. [The Blazers] shot the heck out of the ball, and we didn't finish plays at the basket."

-- Minnesota coach Rick Adelman

HOT: Matthews and Lillard combined to make 23 of their 34 shots, including 9-for-14 from 3-point range.

NOT: Minnesota's front line of Love, Nikola Pekovic and Andrei Kirilenko made only 13 of their 37 shots in the game.

GOOD MOVE: With injury-plagued Minnesota thin in the backcourt, the Blazers exploited them by going at them with Matthews and Lillard.

BAD MOVE: Stotts left LaMarcus Aldridge in the game after the All-Star forward drew his fourth foul early in the third quarter. Aldridge picked up his fifth personal a minute later and took a seat on the bench.

QUOTABLE III: "We're all professionals. We've played basketball for a long time. It still takes calling out. That's what coach [Stotts] did, and everybody responded."

-- Portland's Wesley Matthews

NOTABLE: Lillard, a rookie, set season highs with 28 points and 11 field goals and also recorded his fifth game with at least six assists.

UP NEXT: For the Timberwolves, Saturday @ Golden State, Tuesday @ Sacramento, Wednesday @ L.A. Clippers. For the Trail Blazers, Sunday @ Brooklyn, Monday @ Detroit, Wednesday at Washington.

• Timberwolves: Budinger, Roy, Rubio
• Trail Blazers: Claver, Williams

• Timberwolves: Love
• Trail Blazers: Aldridge, Jeffries, Leonard

• Lead Changes: 8
• Times Tied: 3

• Arena: Rose Garden, Portland, OR
• Officials: #17 Joe Crawford, #11 Derrick Collins, #73 Tre Maddox
• Attendance: 20555
• Duration: 2:08