PREVIEW: The Minnesota Timberwolves bring efficient rim attacking and a high free throw rate to Portland, though their perimeter defense ranks among the league's worst at allowing quality three-point looks. The Trail Blazers counter with elite offensive rebounding and frequent three-point attempts, yet they struggle with inefficient transition offense and poor defensive rebounding. Minnesota's defensive vulnerability against deep shots could be exploited by Portland's high volume from beyond the arc, as the Blazers average 1.7 more made threes per game than the Timberwolves typically allow. The Timberwolves have won their last six of ten games while shooting nearly 50 percent from the field, giving them momentum heading into this matchup. Portland has lost both previous meetings against Minnesota this season, including a dominant 133-109 defeat before the All-Star break. However, the Blazers will be without All-Star Deni Avdija, their primary playmaker and scorer, after he suffered a back injury in their last game. The Timberwolves sit in sixth place with championship aspirations, while Portland remains in the play-in conversation in ninth, making this a critical test for both teams' playoff positioning. Minnesota gets a boost with Rudy Gobert returning from suspension, though Naz Reid's availability remains uncertain due to shoulder soreness.