Minnesota Timberwolves middle Rudy Gobert (27) dunks as Portland Path Blazers ahead Jabari Walker (34) watches through the first half of an NBA basketball recreation Friday, Jan. 12, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photograph/Craig Lassig)
MINNEAPOLIS — Rudy Gobert had 24 factors and 17 rebounds, Karl-Anthony Cities scored 23 factors and the Minnesota Timberwolves cruised to a 116-93 victory over the Portland Path Blazers on Friday night time within the NBA.
Gobert returned after lacking one recreation with left hip soreness. The dual tower duo of Gobert and Cities dominated an undermanned and younger Portland squad that was on the second recreation of a back-to-back after shedding 139-77 in Oklahoma Metropolis an evening earlier, matching the fifth-biggest loss in NBA historical past.
Gobert and Cities mixed to shoot 16 of 19 from the sector and Cities was 3 of three from 3-point territory. Minnesota shot 55% as a workforce, whereas holding the Path Blazers to 39%.
Mike Conley returned to the lineup after lacking a recreation as a consequence of relaxation and had 9 factors and 10 assists. Anthony Edwards completed with 9 factors for the Timberwolves, who ran their file to 14-3 at residence this season. Gobert, Edwards and Conley didn’t play within the fourth quarter.
KAT ATTACK. 😼😼😼@PaniniAmerica Peak Efficiency of the Recreation
triple vote day » https://t.co/adpbBYDQ4T pic.twitter.com/pGWkwzII76
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) January 13, 2024
Duop Reath had 14 factors for Portland, which misplaced six of seven in ending a seven-game highway journey. Jerami Grant added 13 factors for the Path Blazers.
Jabari Walker returned after lacking 4 video games with left knee tendinitis and had 17 factors off the bench, however Portland’s DeAndre Ayton missed his tenth straight recreation with proper knee tendinitis and Shaedon Sharpe missed the sport with adductor soreness.
Malcolm Brogdon returned for the Path Blazers after lacking a recreation as a consequence of relaxation and had 9 factors off the bench. However main scorer Anfernee Simons was 0-for-10 capturing and scored simply 5 factors.
Minnesota regained the highest spot within the Western Convention with the win, however the Wolves had run into hassle lately, significantly on the offensive finish. They’d misplaced 4 of six video games and had been affected by turnovers.
Minnesota began the day averaging the third-most turnovers within the league at 15.3 per recreation, contributing to a scoring common of 113.1 factors per recreation that was twenty second within the NBA. The Wolves dedicated 16 turnovers on Friday but it surely didn’t price them in opposition to the Blazers.
Minnesota scored the primary 11 factors of the sport and by no means seemed again. It led by 22 within the first quarter earlier than Portland climbed inside 9 halfway by means of the second. However the Wolves would lead by 36 within the fourth, an all-too-familiar feeling for the Blazers.
Throughout its seven-game highway journey, Portland misplaced by a minimum of 21 six occasions. Its lone win got here at Brooklyn, 134-127 in additional time.
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NEXT SCHEDULE
Path Blazers: Return residence in opposition to Phoenix on Sunday.
Timberwolves: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.