The Wolves look to notch their first three-game winning streak of the year when they face off against the Blazers at Target Center. Can the Wolves avoid falling into an early deficit and put together a dominant performance from start to finish?
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Portland Trailblazers
Date: November 8th, 2024
Time: 8:00PM CST
Location: Target Center
Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network North
Radio Coverage: Wolves App/iHeart Radio
It’s time for the Minnesota Timberwolves to show they’re officially done with the rollercoaster. After an explosive fourth quarter that propelled the Wolves over the Chicago Bulls last night, Minnesota heads back to Target Center for the second night of a back-to-back, this time against the Portland Trail Blazers. This matchup marks the third game in a string of seven that should, on paper, be nothing more than a formality for Minnesota. The Wolves had a bumpy start to this “easy” stretch, dropping a tough one to the Spurs, but have since bounced back with victories over the Hornets and Bulls.
This game against Portland offers the Wolves a chance to notch their first real winning streak of the season—and I’m talking more than back-to-back wins here. Let’s aim for a legit streak of three games, hopefully even more. Given Portland’s youth and lack of depth, the Wolves have zero excuse for anything less than a convincing win. Sure, they’re playing on tired legs after a hard-fought battle in Chicago, but the Blazers aren’t exactly coming in fresh, either—they’re traveling to Minnesota after a loss to San Antonio. So, we’ve got both teams on the second night of a back-to-back, but the Wolves have the deeper lineup and arguably the better talent at every position. Anything less than a win would be downright disappointing.
That being said, we’ve learned that nothing with the Wolves is ever as easy as it seems. We saw it against San Antonio, where the crazy travel schedule might have taken a toll, but the Wolves still failed to bring the energy. Against Charlotte, they looked like they were coasting through the first half before finally flipping the switch in the third quarter, eventually turning the game into a 30-point blowout. And last night in Chicago? It was another tale of two halves. Early on, the Wolves struggled defensively, letting the Bulls get whatever they wanted at the rim and from deep. It looked like another game that could slip through their fingers, especially as the Bulls stretched the lead to 13 points. But then came the fourth quarter—a 45-point explosion that was the highest offensive output in a single quarter for any NBA team this season. Anthony Edwards decided enough was enough and took over, draining threes, driving to the hoop, and leaving no doubt about the game’s outcome.
Now, let’s not ignore the fact that the Bulls were coming off their own back-to-back against the Mavericks, and fatigue might have played a role in their late-game collapse. Those shots that were falling early started clanking in the fourth, and the Wolves’ ramped-up defensive pressure certainly didn’t help. But the Wolves can’t count on the Blazers folding just because they’re tired. They’ll need to hit the gas early and put this game away before the Blazers even have a chance to catch their breath. If they play around like they did in the first half against Chicago, they’re setting themselves up for an unnecessary dogfight.
Here’s the deal: after a 3-3 start, this stretch of “winnable” games is a chance for the Wolves to build some serious momentum. We’re talking about three matchups against Portland and a home game against Miami sandwiched in between. If they take care of business, there’s no reason they can’t be sitting at 9-3 after this stretch. And playing .750 ball through mid-November would put the Wolves right where they need to be, especially given the early season growing pains with new additions like Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.
This is what championship-caliber teams do—they handle their business against the teams they’re supposed to beat. The difference between a top-three seed in April and a five or six seed (or worse, a play-in spot) comes down to stretches like this. With the Western Conference stacked—Phoenix, OKC, and Golden State are already sitting pretty at 7-1—there’s zero room for error. Out East, you’ve got Cleveland and Boston as the only teams above .500. Meanwhile, 50-50 ball doesn’t even guarantee you a play-in spot out West.
So, it’s gut-check time. The Wolves need to put on their big-boy pants, bring the intensity, and show that they’re here to play every night. Weeks one and two were about finding chemistry and adjusting to new players. But at this point, there are no more excuses. It’s win tonight or look back in April wondering where it all went wrong.