NBA: Julius Randle erupts for 41 as Timberwolves top Trail Blazers

Julius Randle scored 41 points on 14-for-24 shooting as the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled away for a 133-109 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night in Minneapolis.

Jaden McDaniels added 21 points on 7-for-13 shooting for Minnesota, which heads into the NBA All-Star break with back-to-back victories. Rudy Gobert contributed 17 points and eight rebounds, while Anthony Edwards scored 14 points.

For Portland, Jrue Holiday led the way with 23 points, including five 3-pointers, ending the Trail Blazers’ three-game winning streak. Scoot Henderson added 18 points, and Vit Krejci chipped in 17 points.

Minnesota shot 51.1% from the field (45 of 88) and 41.2% from 3-point range (14 of 34). Portland finished at 42.6% overall (40 of 94) and 35.6% from long distance (16 of 45).

The Trail Blazers never held the lead, and the Timberwolves extended their advantage to as many as 28 points in the second half. Holiday kept Portland within striking distance early in the third quarter, making a floating bank shot to cut the deficit to 67-59 with 8:57 remaining.

Minnesota quickly responded with a 12-0 run to push the lead to 20 points. The run featured back-to-back 3-pointers by Edwards and Randle, a free throw by Gobert, another 3-pointer by Randle, and a dunk by Gobert. With the score well out of reach, Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch rested his starters for the final five minutes.

The Timberwolves built a 61-51 lead at halftime, holding a 16-point advantage at one point in the first half. Randle’s driving layup put Minnesota ahead 48-32 with 6:41 remaining, but Portland quickly cut the deficit to 10 points with consecutive 3-pointers from Holiday, assisted by Deni Avdija and Jerami Grant.

Before the game, the NBA fined Timberwolves big man Naz Reid $35,000 for his role in an on-court altercation with Atlanta Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye two days earlier. The fine did not slow Reid, who finished with 11 points on 4-for-8 shooting and seven rebounds against Portland.

-Field Level Media/Reuters