Wolves-Portland game preview
April 3, 2017 at 4:49AM
Preview: Officially eliminated from playoff contention Saturday, the Timberwolves will play their final seven games with little for which to play. The Trail Blazers, though, are still fighting to a playoff berth. Portland, 9-1 in its past 10 games, leads Denver by two games for the eighth and final spot in the West. This game is the rescheduling of the March 6 game that was postponed because of condensation on the court. The Blazers won Saturday without C Jusuf Nurkic, who will miss the rest of the regular season because of a non-displaced right leg fibular fracture.
Players to watch: Wolves C Karl-Anthony Towns has scored 20 or more points in seven of his past eight games. F/G Andrew Wiggins is coming off a 32-point game Saturday. PG Ricky Rubio had his third consecutive double-double Saturday but struggled with his shooting, going 1-for-10. … Portland's backcourt of CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard combined for 60 points, 14 assists, 10 rebounds and two steals Saturday vs. Phoenix, hitting nine of 17 three-pointers.
Injuries: Wolves G Zach LaVine (knee surgery) and Nemanja Bjelica (foot surgery) are out. Portland C Nurkic (leg), C Festus Ezeli (knee) and F Ed Davis (shoulder) are out.
Kent Youngblood
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Portland defeated Minnesota for the second day in a row, giving up only 15 points in the second quarter and leading to a search for answers.
