Trail Blazers at Timberwolves
THE STORY: Kevin Love is in a groove since the All-Star break, and the Minnesota Timberwolves are quietly creeping into playoff contention. The Timberwolves have won two straight with Love averaging 40.5 points. The first of those came at the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday, when the Oregon native scored 42 points. That snapped a 16-game losing streak to the Blazers, who visit Minnesota on Wednesday. Portland bounced back with a win over New Orleans on Monday but is now behind the Timberwolves in 10th place in the Western Conference.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, CSNW (Portland), FSNO (Minnesota)
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (19-19): Portland had been struggling on the defensive end during a three-game losing streak, allowing an average of 111 points. The Blazers managed to clean things up on that end against the lowly Hornets, holding the 29th-ranked scoring offense in the NBA to 41 percent shooting in an 86-74 triumph on Monday. But against Minnesota, Portland allowed 54 percent shooting and a barrage of 3-pointers. The Blazers got at least 23 points from three different players - led by Nicolas Batum’s 29 - in that game but could not get the stops they needed. They are opening a seven-game road trip on Wednesday that could decide their playoff fate.
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (20-19): Minnesota was not on a lot of lists as a potential playoff team. But with Love emerging as one of the best players in the league and Rick Adelman getting the team to play hard every night, all of a sudden the Timberwolves have won seven of 10 and are only one game behind eighth-place Houston in the West. After dominating LaMarcus Aldridge in the Blazers game, Love got the better of another fellow All-Star, Blake Griffin, in a 95-94 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday. Love went for 39 points and 17 rebounds and hit a pair of key baskets in the final minutes.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Love is 10 for 18 from 3-point range in the last two games.
2. The Blazers are 5-12 on the road but has won eight straight at Minnesota.
3. Portland PG Raymond Felton scored two points on 1-of-9 shooting in Saturday’s meeting.