Portland Trail Blazers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves: Match Preview, Prediction, Time, TV Channel

The Portland Trail Blazers will look to make amends for the chaos they caused on the court in Sunday’s 134-89 home loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.

What that might look like is unclear.

The Blazers host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday and Wednesday. The same team that beat the Blazers 127-102 in Minnesota on Friday.

The game is the Blazers’ first of the season tournament.

There are a lot of bad matchups for the Blazers in the NBA. Minnesota is one of the worst. The Timberwolves rank sixth in three-point shooting (39.3%) and seventh in both defensive rating (109.7) and net rating (plus-5.6).

Minnesota also has a powerful superstar in Anthony Edwards, who fueled the Blazers for 37 points on Friday by shooting 9 of 15 from three-point range.

The Blazers aren’t quite as good. They rank 23rd in defensive rating (116.1), 29th in net rating (minus-10.8) and 29th in three-point rating (30.2%).

The Blazers’ best player, Anferee Simons, is also off to a slow start and hasn’t shown he can match Edwards’ firepower.

Simons is averaging 17.5 points while shooting 38.1% from the field and 30.1% from three-point range, both career lows.

“I’m just trying to figure it out,” Simons said Sunday. “I try not to get too caught up in external expectations. I’m just trying my best to find ways to help the team in the best way possible so we can become a better team.

Whether that looks like I scored 30 points or some nights, it could be less. I just try to find different ways to influence the team. That’s my main focus.”

Unless Simons comes out of his panic, the Blazers won’t be beating teams like the Timberwolves any time soon.

Forecast: The Blazers need to prove they can at least compete with one contender before they are ever picked to beat one again. Timberwolves across the board.

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PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS VS. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

What: Trail Blazers (3-8) vs. Timberwolves (6-4), 7 p.m., Tuesday.

Where: Moda Center,

Radio: Rip City Radio (KPOJ 620 AM).

TV channels: KATU Charge (Antenna: 2.2 in Portland. Comcast: 302 and 1170. DirecTV and Dish: Available January 1).

How to watch: Rip City TV Network. If you don’t have cable, you can watch this game live for FREE using an HDTV antenna at your local ABC affiliate (2.2 fee in Portland). These antennas are very easy to install and cost around $20. You can purchase one at your local Bi-Mart or Fred Meyer, or buy one online at Walmart or Amazon and have it shipped quickly to your home. Here are some instructions for setting up an HDTV antenna on your TV or other display. You can find out more about which channel Rip City TV Network is on near you using the channel finder here.

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OPPORTUNITIES (Oregon Lottery/DraftKings)

Money line: POR +320 | MIN -410

Spread: POR +9 | Over/Under: 220.5

INJURIES

Blazers: Deandre Ayton (Sprain of right index finger) and Matisse Thybulle (inflammation of the right knee) are out.

Timberwolves: None.

Next

The Blazers host the Timberwolves again on Wednesday at 7 p.m.