Minnesota Timberwolves vs Portland Trail Blazers
PREVIEW: The Portland Trail Blazers and Minnesota Timberwolves meet at Target Center on Wednesday night , with the hosts looking to build momentum heading into the All-Star break. Minnesota boasts elite rim efficiency ranked fourth in the league while excelling at limiting three-point attempts on defense at 39.2 percent , a defensive structure that could trouble Portland's perimeter-oriented offense. The Trail Blazers arrive riding a three-game winning streak after dismantling Philadelphia 135-118 on Monday , with Toumani Camara leading the charge with 30 points on nearly perfect shooting . However, Portland's offensive profile reveals concerning weaknesses, including ranking 27th in rim attacking efficiency and 30th in three-point shooting accuracy , issues that could resurface against Minnesota's stout interior defense.
The Timberwolves have won five of their last eight games and dominated Atlanta 138-116 on Monday with Anthony Edwards posting 30 points alongside Ayo Dosunmu's 21 off the bench. Portland's ball movement struggles rank dead last in the conference with excessive isolation plays and a 30th-ranked turnover rate , creating opportunities for Minnesota to generate transition offense. The Timberwolves operate as the NBA's strongest home defensive unit, holding opponents to just 106.2 points per game while controlling both ends of the court. These teams last met in October with Minnesota prevailing 118-114, led by Edwards' 41-point explosion , setting the stage for another competitive matchup between a streaking young squad and a playoff-tested veteran team.