Game Thread 2025-25 GAME #71 - BLAZERS @ TWOLVES - MARCH 20, 2026 - FRIDAY - 5:00 PM - KUNP - BLAZERVISION (8 Viewers)

[Chris Craig]

__________________________________________

REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS

BLAZERS 34-36 TWOLVES 43-27

_____________________________________________

STARTERS


Jrue Holiday Deni Avdija

Jerami Grant Toumani Camara

Donovan Clingan


Donte DiVincenzo Ayo Dosunmu

Jaden McDaniels Julius Randle

Rudy Gobert

_____________________________________________

WHEN: MARCH 20, 2026 - FRIDAY - 5:00 PM PST

WHERE: TARGET CENTER MINNEAPOLIS MN



TV BROADCAST



STREAMING



RADIO BROADCAST


_____________________________________________



_____________________________________________

BENCH


Robert Williams III Scoot Henderson

Matisse Thybulle Sidy Cissiko

Blake Wesley Vit Krejci

Kris Murray Yang Hansen

Caleb Love* Chris Youngblood*

Jayson Kent* Damian Lillard°

Shaedon Sharpe°

* Two Way Player ° Injured Player


Julian Phillips Mike Conley

Kyle Anderson Joe Ingles

Joan Beringer Bones Hyland

Jaylen Clark Terrence Shannon Jr

Enrique Freeman* Rocco Zikarsky*

Zyon Pullin* Anthony Davis°

Naz Reid°

* Two Way Player °Injured Player

_____________________________________________

COACH


Tiago Splitter


Chris Finch

_____________________________________________

INJURIES

BLAZERS

Damian Lillard - Achilles - Out
Shaedon Sharpe - Leg - Out
Vit Krejci - Calf - Quest

TWOLVES

Anthony Edwards - Knee - Out
Naz Reid - Ankle - Out

_____________________________________________

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

BLAZERS @ NUGGETS - 3/22 - 2:00 PM

BLAZERS VS NETS - 3/23 - 7:00 PM

BLAZERS VS BUCKS - 3/25 - 7:00 PM

BLAZERS VS MAVERICKS - 3/27 - 7:00 PM

_____________________________________________

GAME NOTES

• The Blazers are 92-50 all time versus the Timberwolves
• The Twolves defeated the Blazers in their home opener 118-114 on 10/22
• The Twolves defeated the Blazers 133-109 on 2/11 in Minnesota
• The Twolves defeated the Blazers 124-121 on 2/24 in Portland
• Joe Ingles was a Blazer during the 2022-23 season, but he recuperated from a knee injury and never played for the team

_____________________________________________

​

 

[Chris Craig]

Let's get another one

 

[SharpesTriumph]

With Edwards out there is an actual chance to win. Although I'd think we are still a significant underdog.

Win gets us sole possession of 8th seed. 8th seed is a big advantage over 9th. One advances with a win of either playin game other only advances with win of both games.

If games were a coin flip that's 75% vs 25%

I'm rooting hard for the playoffs. We would payoff pick debt to Chicago, unlock 3 years of Blazers picks, get a tad more cap room, fully guarantee Bucks pick swap, and get our roster playoff game experience which they all greatly could benefit from.

Thunder went from zero playoff experience, made the playin, then a few years later won the title.

Now if there was a good chance of the Blazers getting a top4 pick I'd instead be rooting for tanking. But that chance was lost long ago for this season. If we miss the playoffs I'll look at the pick as a consolidation prize, or possibly would just offer it up to Chicago anyways to payoff the pick debt.

 

[Domihatin]

Shout out to the evil wolf menacing a small child in a red cape representing the Blazers.

And yes indeed, we are glimpsing the 8th seed.

It's not number one, but this ride has been fun.

Even with the negative waves and the no "I"in me, we are tasting playoff poontang, despite The HCP.

 

[wizenheimer]

I'm rooting hard for the playoffs. We would payoff pick debt to Chicago, unlock 3 years of Blazers picks, get a tad more cap room, fully guarantee Bucks pick swap, and get our roster playoff game experience which they all greatly could benefit from.

It's a real stretch to say 3 years would be "unlocked". 2026 would be gone to start with. But the Blazers have had the option for years to trade either 2026 or 2027 (protected 15-30). Up until the trade deadline, Portland could have traded, for example, either their 2026 or 2027 first (15-30 protected) + their 2028 1st with swap rights + one of their 2029 first's + their 2030 1st, because they have Orlando's unprotected 2028 first, and two picks in 2029 so they wouldn't be violating the Septien rule. Think about that: at the trade deadline the Blazers had 4 first round picks to trade in the next 5 drafts. Portland could have actually traded first round picks in 4 consecutive drafts. That's pretty unlocked already

getting Orlando's 2028 first did as much 'unlocking' as getting swept in the first round in April would do

 

[SharpesTriumph]

It's a real stretch to say 3 years would be "unlocked". 2026 would be gone to start with. But the Blazers have had the option for years to trade either 2026 or 2027 (protected 15-30). Up until the trade deadline, Portland could have traded, for example, either their 2026 or 2027 first (15-30 protected) + their 2028 1st with swap rights + one of their 2029 first's + their 2030 1st, because they have Orlando's unprotected 2028 first, and two picks in 2029 so they wouldn't be violating the Septien rule. Think about that: at the trade deadline the Blazers had 4 first round picks to trade in the next 5 drafts. Portland could have actually traded first round picks in 4 consecutive drafts. That's pretty unlocked already

getting Orlando's 2028 first did as much 'unlocking' as getting swept in the first round in April would do

Blazers 2027, 2028, 2029 picks all have potential stipen restrictions from the Blazers owing Chicago a pick. Those restrictions would be eliminated if we give Chicago our 2026 pick. It's a simple fact, there is nothing misleading.

Now is it possible those restrictions have zero impact in actual trades the Blazers get close to discussing? Sure that's possible. But not having those restrictions would be a potential benefit. Yes it's complicated in that there is multiple other picks that have been acquired/dealt so those Stipen restrictions might not matter. But they are still a restriction lifted if the Chicago pick debt is paid.

I'd probably argue the larger benefit is just not owing any team a pick. Kind of like some individual here paying off all their credit card debt. Yeah you could instead plan to have an investment returning a higher interest rate than you owe. Sometimes it's just easier to pay off debt and not have any concerns about who you owe in the next few years. It makes investment decisions much simpler and less risky.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

It's a real stretch to say 3 years would be "unlocked". 2026 would be gone to start with. But the Blazers have had the option for years to trade either 2026 or 2027 (protected 15-30). Up until the trade deadline, Portland could have traded, for example, either their 2026 or 2027 first (15-30 protected) + their 2028 1st with swap rights + one of their 2029 first's + their 2030 1st, because they have Orlando's unprotected 2028 first, and two picks in 2029 so they wouldn't be violating the Septien rule. Think about that: at the trade deadline the Blazers had 4 first round picks to trade in the next 5 drafts. Portland could have actually traded first round picks in 4 consecutive drafts. That's pretty unlocked already

getting Orlando's 2028 first did as much 'unlocking' as getting swept in the first round in April would do

No Blazers couldn't have traded 2026 top15. If that trade conveyed then 2027 would still be owed to Chicago which could potentially leave the Blazers without two consecutive year picks (stipen violation)

Blazers could trade 2026 (if they keep it) after the draft is complete.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

The asset with the highest potential value is that Bucks 2028 pick swap. Paying off Chicago pick debt this summer would guarantee the Blazers get that unprotected swap. It's a potential top4 pick value - like the Celtics got from the Nets in building the title winning Tatum/Brown duo.

If we still owe Chicago our 2027 pick yes there is a chance we can still keep that Bucks swap but it might start to get very risky, stressful, or just lead to an epic tanking incentive. I'm hoping our youth is even better positioned to try and win at that time. I really don't want to see that tanking play out. We've experienced enough tanking for awhile.

 

[THE HCP]

Shout out to the evil wolf menacing a small child in a red cape representing the Blazers.

And yes indeed, we are glimpsing the 8th seed.

It's not number one, but this ride has been fun.

Even with the negative waves and the no "I"in me, we are tasting playoff poontang, despite The HCP.

@SlyPokerDog will you please get this in check. Between this and mentioning who I work for every other post…..not cool with this at all.

 

[THE HCP]

With Edwards out there is an actual chance to win.

Honest question, you WANT this to happen or you think it COULD happen?

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Honest question, you WANT this to happen or you think it COULD happen?

Yes

 

[THE HCP]

Yes

You outa be a joy in the game thread tonight then.

 

[wizenheimer]

Blazers 2027, 2028, 2029 picks all have potential stipen restrictions from the Blazers owing Chicago a pick. Those restrictions would be eliminated if we give Chicago our 2026 pick. It's a simple fact, there is nothing misleading.

I didn't say it was misleading....I implied you were exaggerating the impact of 'unlocking' because Portland's 1st round pick inventory is already pretty unlocked, as is, because of having potentially two firsts in both 2028 & 2029

I think Cronin really valued that 2028 Orlando 1st, maybe even more than his overrated value of Yang, because it does give Portland a significant lever to use against the encumbrance on the 2028 swap

I just don't agree that making the playoffs this season and losing the 1st in a strong draft is a better outcome than making the playoffs next season and losing the 1st in a weaker draft

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I just don't agree that making the playoffs this season and losing the 1st in a strong draft is a better outcome than making the playoffs next season and losing the 1st in a weaker draft

I do think the outcome you list would be superior.

The problem is if we miss the playoffs this year we're not guaranteed to make it next year. Look at the Clippers and Warriors - prior to the season nobody had them at the bottom of the playin. Unpredictable things happen every season.

So is that gamble that we could make the playoffs next year worth the risk of potentially losing an unprotected Bucks swap?

There is no right or wrong answer to any of these scenarios. My preference is to make the playoffs this year and give the Bulls our pick. I see that scenario as having the best value to our roster and best way to move the franchise closer to contending.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Really the clearly best scenario in terms of pick value is missing the playoffs for all of this year, in 2027 and in 2028. Then we never give the Bulls any draft pick.

Personally I'll find it pretty disheartening to have lived through 7 consecutive years of the Blazers in the lottery - but just in terms of Blazers roster assets that's probably the best value.

With so many tanking fans around here I'm kind of surprised nobody is yet vocally rooting for that scenario. Perhaps if we miss the playoff then they will start with that this summer.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I didn't say it was misleading....I implied you were exaggerating the impact of 'unlocking' because Portland's 1st round pick inventory is already pretty unlocked, as is, because of having potentially two firsts in both 2028 & 2029

I think Cronin really valued that 2028 Orlando 1st, maybe even more than his overrated value of Yang, because it does give Portland a significant lever to use against the encumbrance on the 2028 swap

I just don't agree that making the playoffs this season and losing the 1st in a strong draft is a better outcome than making the playoffs next season and losing the 1st in a weaker draft

Now my initial post wasn't intended to be a comprehensive list of all the benefits and costs of the Blazers making the playoffs. There certainly are potential downsides to it.

Instead I just listed all the reasons I'm rooting for the playoffs. There are potential advantages to it. Often posters and casual fans are not aware of those.

Other posters have made simple statements such as questioning why I'm rooting for the playoffs as "then the Blazers lose their pick"... which totally omits all the potential benefits to extinguishing the Bulls pick debt.

 

[Cugel]

Tough game with or without Edwards

 

[Domihatin]

@SlyPokerDog will you please get this in check. Between this and mentioning who I work for every other post…..not cool with this at all.

What?

@SlyPokerDog will you please get this in check. Between this and mentioning who I work for every other post…..not cool with this at all.

I wasn't insulting you. I was joking around, as I've seen many do here towards you. Did I say something to offend you?

 

[Chris Craig]

What?


I wasn't insulting you. I was joking around, as I've seen many do here towards you. Did I say something to offend you?

He doesn't really like people continuing to mention his association with the team. He has a good reason for that. So, maybe chill on continuing to mention that.

As for your comment, maybe specify despite his take on the team this season (which I think is what you were getting at), not despite him solo. I see how that can be taken as a personal insult even if it wasn't what you meant.

 

[Domihatin]

He doesn't really like people continuing to mention his association with the team. He has a good reason for that. So, maybe chill on continuing to mention that.

As for your comment, maybe specify despite his take on the team this season (which I think is what you were getting at), not despite him solo. I see how that can be taken as a personal insult even if it wasn't what you meant.

I can see that. It was silly poem, crass and poorly thought out. I have made some appreciative and friendly posts towards him recently. I was just trying to be menta here. I totally see your point, though.

 

[BigGameDamian]

So Dani’s going for 65?

 

[AldoTrapani]

Deni sucks at FTs

 

[Cugel]

Defense seems engaged.

 

[Cugel]

Htf is that not free throws for time lord? Murray did a great job on D there on Randle.

1 turnover! Got to be a season best for POR

 

[AldoTrapani]

Wow what happened to Toumani this year? He’s really bad

 

[Cugel]

Bad end to the half. You can’t give up 2-11 runs