The Timberwolves get their first taste of NBA Cup action as they head to Portland to face the Blazers. The name of the game will be piling it on as Minnesota looks to overpower their under-matched opponent.
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Portland Trailblazers
Date: November 12th, 2024
Time: 9:00PM CST
Location: Moda Center
Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network North
Radio Coverage: Wolves App/iHeart Radio
After a late-game mental slip-ups cost the Timberwolves a win against the Heat, they’re getting a shot at redemption as they kick off a back-to-back road series against the Trail Blazers. The Wolves absolutely dismantled the Blazers in their last meeting, delivering a 25-point beatdown that never felt close. This was the Wolves at their best—a wire-to-wire performance that, frankly, we haven’t seen enough of this season. But now they’ve got to channel that same energy on the road, without the Target Center crowd to ride off of.
Here’s the kicker: this isn’t just another game. This is the Wolves’ first matchup in the Emirates NBA Cup. Yes, you read that right. An in-season tournament with a fancy international title, where not only does winning matter, but winning big matters. For the Wolves, a game like this is anything but meaningless.
Let’s set the stage. The Wolves found out the hard way last year that you can’t just squeak by in these cup games. Last season, Minnesota went 3-1 in the group stage, but because their wins came by thin margins, they lost their invitation to the dance based on point differential. So this time around, it’s not enough for the Wolves to just beat the Blazers—they need to clobber them. I’m talking about sending Portland back to Rip City in tatters.
Luckily, this year’s group stage is looking a lot friendlier. The Wolves have a manageable lineup of opponents: Kings, Rockets, Clippers, and, of course, the Blazers. Nobody here is blowing teams out of the water. In fact, all four teams—other than Portland—are sitting at 6-4, making the Blazers the clear underdog. In a group this close, every extra point on that differential counts. Going 4-0 would obviously be the best-case scenario, but if the Wolves slip up even once, they’ll need every point they can get. So for the Wolves, bullying the Blazers is mission-critical.
In their last meeting, Chris Finch let Anthony Edwards take a seat in the fourth quarter, with the game basically on ice. This time? Not a chance. The Wolves need to pile it on, pedal to the metal, with no mercy. The last game saw them stretch a 30-point lead, watch it shrink to single digits, and then push it back up. That won’t cut it in this format. If there was ever a game for Edwards to make a statement, this is it. This is the game where Ant can go for 40-plus, raining down threes, filling up the box score, and putting this game to bed before halftime. Let’s be real—this is not a night to play with their food. It’s a night to demolish it.
Now, look, I’m not exactly a fan of the NBA’s point differential tiebreaker. It feels kind of cheap, like some rule out of an international soccer tournament rather than a battle-hardened NBA. Teams that end up in tough groups can end up punished simply because of random draw. And let’s face it, asking players to pile on the points in a blowout exposes them to injuries and messes with the sportsmanship that the league loves to preach. But these are the rules. This is the game the NBA wants us to play, so if point differential is the name of the game, let’s lean into it.
The Wolves have every reason to want this. This is a team that’s barely sniffed playoff success, with only two playoff series wins in 35 years. They don’t have banners hanging from the rafters. For this team, getting into the in-season tournament and competing for a trophy—even if it’s not the big one—actually matters. Let’s not pretend we’re the Boston Celtics with 18 titles. Before last season, the Wolves barely had 18 playoff wins. This is about building a culture of winning, setting a standard, and showing that this franchise isn’t content with being an NBA afterthought.
So tomorrow night, when they tip off against the Blazers, the Wolves need to come out with a vengeance. Forget just winning—this team has to stomp on the gas, drop the hammer, and show the league they’re serious about building something special. The Emirates Cup may not be the Larry O’Brien Trophy, but for the Wolves, it’s a prime opportunity to win something. This is game time. Time to show up, show out, and take that first step towards bringing home a trophy.