Trail Blazers at Timberwolves
The Portland Trail Blazers look to extend their winning streak to six games when they continue their road swing against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Trail Blazers have won 14 of their last 15 games — including a 98-86 triumph Tuesday over the lowly Detroit Pistons — and hope to record their eighth straight road victory Wednesday. Portland is 13-1 when scoring 100 or more points and cruised past Minnesota 107-93 on Nov. 30 and now aim to beat the Timberwolves for the fifth straight time.
The Timberwolves started their four-game homestand on the wrong foot after falling 102-86 to the red-hot Golden State Warriors on Monday. Minnesota has dropped six straight games and nine of its last 10 as it looks for its first win against Portland since Dec. 18, 2013. The Timberwolves have surrendered 100 points or more on 16 occasions this season and hope to amp up the defensive intensity and snap a streak of six consecutive losses at the Target Center.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, CSN Northwest (Portland), FSN North (Minnesota)
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (17-4): LaMarcus Aldridge — who was named the Western Conference Player of the Week on Monday — collected 23 points and 11 rebounds versus the Pistons for his sixth straight double-double. Wesley Matthews contributed 19 points, five rebounds and five assists and knocked down a clutch 3-pointer to stem Detroit's rally in the fourth quarter. Portland dished out 25 assists on 41 made field goals Tuesday and has recorded 20 or more helpers in 21 consecutive games.
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (4-16): Mo Williams has missed the last three games with back spasms and his status for Wednesday is unknown while Ricky Rubio (ankle) and Nikola Pekovic (wrist) will be out for likely another four to five weeks. "Now we're looking at a situation where we might be going into a rebuild," coach Flip Saunders said. "But sometimes you're forced to do things that you don't plan on doing." Andrew Wiggins — who collected 21 points, six rebounds and four assists in the loss to the Warriors — has scored in double figures in four of his last five games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Trail Blazers have won eight of the last nine meetings with the Timberwolves.
2. Aldridge has notched 11 double-doubles against Minnesota.
3. The Timberwolves have not beaten a team with a winning record this season.