NBA: Timberwolves try to recalibrate visiting injury-riddled Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers went from surrendering a season-worst 157 points on Friday to allowing a season-low 77 less than 48 hours later, highlighting a dramatic shift in performance.

Portland will look to continue its defensive momentum when it hosts the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night.

The Trail Blazers were crushed 157-103 by the visiting Denver Nuggets on Friday but bounced back with a 92-77 victory over the host Phoenix Suns on Sunday.

“I think we responded after a very poor performance against Denver,” Portland interim coach Tiago Splitter said. “Phoenix scored 77. Outstanding job by the guys, just staying focused, playing hard and securing that win even though offensively we were not great. But I think this is how we got to construct victories—from the defense—and eventually we will hopefully take care of the ball better. You’ve got to win on the defensive end.”

The Suns were missing key players, including All-Star Devin Booker (right hip strain), Dillon Brooks (fractured left hand), and Grayson Allen (right knee and ankle). Portland limited Phoenix to 36.5% shooting and forced 23 turnovers, which led to 24 points. Donovan Clingan and Jerami Grant each scored 23 points, with Clingan adding 13 rebounds.

Portland will be without All-Star Deni Avdija, who reinjured his lower back in the opening minute against Phoenix. Avdija, who leads the team with 24.4 points per game, missed 10 of Portland’s last 16 games before the All-Star break and will sit out Tuesday’s game. Shaedon Sharpe, the team’s second-leading scorer at 21.4 points per game, is also out for a seventh straight game with a left calf strain. Recent imaging showed a stress reaction in Sharpe’s left fibula, which will be re-evaluated in four to six weeks.

The Timberwolves have also struggled with injuries and absences. Minnesota won three games by an average of 19 points before falling 135-108 to the visiting Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday. The team was without defensive anchor Rudy Gobert, serving a one-game suspension, and reserve Naz Reid, sidelined with a shoulder injury.

Gobert has been dominant this month, shooting 71.7% from the field while averaging 13.7 points and 10.9 rebounds per game. Reid scored 21 points two nights earlier against the Dallas Mavericks.

“They were physical, they’re good defensively, they’re super handsy, they’re active in the gaps,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said of the 76ers. “We fought the game. We went into traffic, we didn’t get off the ball early enough.”

Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 28 points, following a 40-point effort in a home win over the Mavericks two nights earlier. Edwards is averaging 29.5 points per game, the third highest in the NBA. Julius Randle scored 18 points against Philadelphia but had only three rebounds and three assists while battling an illness.

Minnesota is 2-0 against Portland this season, winning 118-114 in Portland on Oct. 22 and 133-109 at home on Feb. 11. Edwards scored 41 points in the first matchup, while Grant led Portland with 29. In February, Randle had 41 points, and Jrue Holiday scored 23 for Portland, with Edwards limited to 14 points.

The Trail Blazers will hope their defensive rebound carries them again when they face the Timberwolves Tuesday night.

—Field Level Media/Reuters