Hot shooting gives the Trail Blazers an upset win over the Timberwolves

The Portland Trail Blazers entered their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night shorthanded and with no expectations, especially after a 45-point loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in their last game. Surprise, surprise. Although starting center Deandre Ayton was forced out of the game with a sprained finger and starting guard Anfernee Simons would soon follow, big contributions from Dalano Banton, Robert Williams III, Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara would lead Portland to a decisive (and unexpected) 122-108 Victory.

Banton scored 12 points with 5 assists and 2 blocks in 23 minutes, replacing the missing Simons at point guard. Scoot Henderson attacked the rim hard, scoring 14 points and 3 steals in 20 minutes. Williams shot 9-10 from the floor for 19 points and 9 boards. Avdija added 17 points and 5 assists and Camara 14.

The Blazers shot 18-32, 56.3% from distance in this game, easily their strongest performance of the season from long range.

That’s how the game went.

First quarter

Both teams played fairly active defense at the start of the game. Blocked shots and ball losses were the order of the day early on. Of course, this favored the Blazers and their weak offense. You cannot win a game by 20 points if your opponent only scores 20 points in a period.

As the quarter progressed, the Blazers began hitting three-pointers. That was a good sign because it’s the only way they can stay competitive in games. The accuracy was accompanied by two pieces of bad news. Anfernee Simons went to the locker room with a yet-to-be-identified injury. (It turned out to be a chest problem and he would not return.) Scoot Henderson, his replacement, drew three fouls in a short space of time. With Deandre Ayton already sidelined with a sprained finger, Portland’s bed was shortchanged.

Dalano Banton and Robert Williams III helped the Blazers finish the quarter strong, playing point and center, respectively. A few late threes for the Wolves kept them alive, but a Banton three at the top gave Portland a 28-17 lead. They shot 6-11 from distance. Boom.

Second quarter

As the second period began, Banton continued to hit three-pointers. The Blazers’ mixed lineup continued to force turnovers. That kept the pressure on Minnesota, who started hitting the ball with their own shots. It was a dogfight, but the 11 points the Wolves scored in the first quarter against the Blazers certainly helped.

Banton and Deni Avdija continued the offense in the absence of Portland’s standard point guards. Williams also scored some impressive inside goals, and Banton managed a few dunks with lobs in the half court. The scoring slowed a bit and Minnesota continued to concede threes, shrinking the lead to single digits, but Portland maintained its integrity. They led by 8-9 points for most of the quarter. went into halftime with a lead of 60:53. Cheers to the unsung bench, especially Banton and Williams.

Third quarter

The Blazers backcourt and Robert Williams III played lob-o-rama to start the second half. Rudy Gobert played in the “between areas,” trying to stop Scoot Henderson and other riders who he assumed were just shooting. Not like that. Passports to King Robert III led to a bevy of dunks. This kept Portland steady even as Minnesota continued to score from distance.

Portland’s blistering three-point shooting also continued. For Henderson, distributing the field with 65% accuracy from beyond the arc was like putting a piece of cheese in front of a mouse. He rushed straight to the rim and converted layups with abandon. Speaking of the evening: Avdija hit a three-pointer at the buzzer, repeating Banton’s success from the start. Portland led 93-74 after three games.

Fourth quarter

All good things must come to an end. Portland’s winning streak ended at the start of the fourth quarter. Unable to buy a basket, the Blazers settled for forcing turnovers and making the Timberwolves work hard for rebounds. While it didn’t allow them to win easily, it did ensure that the gap on the scoreboard remained large enough that the game never seemed in doubt. Minnesota had dunks, inside shots and free throws in the fourth, but they never ran long enough to close the gap. A little goal from veteran Jerami Grant, a little defense and the game was sealed.

With the win, the Blazers are 1-0 in the race for the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup.

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Box score

The Blazers face the same Timberwolves tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. in the Pacific.