Game Thread GAME# 30: BLAZERS @ TIMBERWOLVES - DECEMBER 18, 2017 - MONDAY, 5:00 PM (PST), NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2017-18 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
15 - 13
(8-5 Road)
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
17 - 12
(10-5 Home)


_____________________________
---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

DAMIAN LILLARD VS JEFF TEAGUE

SG

C.J. McCOLLUM VS JIMMY BUTLER

SF

EVAN TURNER VS ANDREW WIGGINS

PF

AL-FAROUQ AMINU VS TAJ GIBSON

C

JUSUF NURKIC VS KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS



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WHEN: 5:00 PM, MONDAY, 12/18/2017

WHERE: TARGET CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS, MN

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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--------------BENCH--------------
- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS -

NAPIER , CONNAUGHTON , HARKLESS

LAYMAN , SWANIGAN , VONLEH

COLLINS , DAVIS , LEONARD

- MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES-

BROOKS , JONES , CRAWFORD

GEORGES-HUNT , MUHAMMAD , BROWN

BJELICA , ALDRICH

DIENG , PATTON


INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
C.J. Wilcox (right knee rehab): OUT
TIMBERWOLVES
Nemanja Bjelica (sprained left midfoot): QUESTIONABLE



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- TOM THIBODEAU

OFFICIAL TIMBERWOLVES' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Monday’s game is the first of four meetings between the Trail Blazers and the Timber- wolves during the 2017-18 season.

• LAST SEASON: Portland won the season series with the Timberwolves, 3-1.

• Portland has won seven of its last nine games against the Timberwolves and three of the last four meetings in Minneapolis.

• Damian Lillard averaged 22.7 points (40.0 FG%, 26.9% 3-PT, 89.5% FT), 6.3 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.67 steals in three games against Minnesota last season.

• CJ McCollum averaged 27.5 points (56.3% FG, 50.0% 3-PT, 91.3% FT), 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists in four games against the Timberwolves in 2016-17.

• Al-Farouq Aminu averaged 11.3 points (43.2% FG, 43.8% 3-PT, 54.5% FT), 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.00 blocks in four games against Minnesota last season.

• Andrew Wiggins averaged 27.3 points (47.3% FG, 35.7 % 3-PT, 66.7% FT), 4.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.00 steals in four games against Portland last season.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 79-31
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 44-12
AT THE TIMBERWOLVES: Trail Blazers lead, 35-19

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[riverman]

I can't help but like a howlin' wolf logo but those lime green uniforms they wore last night were gross...looked like cheap nylon bathing trunks from the bargain bin

 

[BrunoSOC]

Huge game for us. I preferer Moe against Wiggs, but that's ok. I hope turner doesn't try to kill us again... please in clutch situations give the ball to Dame or CJ.

Ok we lose 5 in a row so let's win 5 in a row.

 

[riverman]

Division rival...must win game...they are 17 and 13 while we are 16 and 13...this game will put us back in the saddle in the NW division

 

[tlongII]

I really wish we would start Nurk, Aminu, and Collins up front this game.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Division rival...must win game...they are 17 and 13 while we are 16 and 13...this game will put us back in the saddle in the NW division

We should have explored CJ McCollum for Jimmy Butler when we had the chance! Too bad that ship has sailed.

 

[Optimistic Bob]

I've got my hopes up, even though they tried to give that last one away. Free throws guys C'mon !!

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[Mr. Robot]

well, our defense is better than theirs + they have stupid Wiggins, so I believe well win this game
KAT doesnt play any defense, so I expect Nurk to feast this game, I think well see a lot of Dame & Nurk pnr

on the defensive end, I expect Nurk to stop KAT, but yeah, defense will be deciding factor in this game

 

[Optimistic Bob]

I didn't realize C.J.'s head was so small. No wonder he's so dodgy in the paint

 

[stampedehero]

Would like to see hunter green instead of lime green for Timberwolves logo and uni.

 

[BonesJones]

We should have explored CJ McCollum for Jimmy Butler when we had the chance! Too bad that ship has sailed.

You've said this a million times. We get it.

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[illmatic99]

Even after playing HOU and GS last week, our DRTG is 2nd in the league. And our ORTG is 19th.

This more than a blip 30 games in.

I think Nurk is playing a huge role in both those rankings. Our P&R defense is night and day and our guards are noticeably better getting around screens.

 

[stampedehero]

This should be the Timberwolves logo.

 

[Scalma]

Even after playing HOU and GS last week, our DRTG is 2nd in the league. And our ORTG is 19th.

This more than a blip 30 games in.

I think Nurk is playing a huge role in both those rankings. Our P&R defense is night and day and our guards are noticeably better getting around screens.

Nurk is the anchor but Lillard has made a commitment on the defensive end. He works his ass off pretty much every night. McCollum has gotten better too although he’s much more inconsistent. The rest (Aminu, Turner, Vonleh, Collins, even Napier) are just instinctually good defenders.

Now if we could just somehow turn that surplus into ONE consistent shooter

 

[Scalma]

Dieng is a good matchup for Collins on paper

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Not quite sure how I feel about the argyle, but I LOVE the red-on-black.

 

[riverman]

Looks sharp here...the photo leaked before showed more grey diamonds..this one highlights the black...way better than the red alt jerseys

 

[Pinwheel1]

http://www.espn.com/nba/preview?gameId=400975197

Timberwolves could be without Butler vs. Blazers

 

[riverman]

Go Blazers! Should be a fun game!

 

[dviss1]

I didn't realize C.J.'s head was so small. No wonder he's so dodgy in the paint

No, you're just comparing his head to the HUGE one next to it.

 

[Strenuus]

http://www.espn.com/nba/preview?gameId=400975197

Timberwolves could be without Butler vs. Blazers

Damnit, so we'll either lose or barely squeak out a win.

 

[Labinot41]

Towns is a terrible defender. I like to see at least 20 Points from Nurkic this Game

 

[BigGameDamian]

http://www.espn.com/nba/preview?gameId=400975197

Timberwolves could be without Butler vs. Blazers

I hate it when fans get excited when a big player from an opposing team is out. I'd rather win or lose when the team at full strength. So I hope Butler does play!

 

[Labinot41]

I hate it when fans get excited when a big player from an opposing team is out. I'd rather win or lose when the team at full strength. So I hope Butler does play!

He ist expected to play

 

[Pinwheel1]

I hate it when fans get excited when a big player from an opposing team is out. I'd rather win or lose when the team at full strength. So I hope Butler does play!

Did I show any excitement in my post? I just linked an article. I am assuming he will play.

 

[BonesJones]

I hate it when fans get excited when a big player from an opposing team is out. I'd rather win or lose when the team at full strength. So I hope Butler does play!

Why? The win total at the end is all I care about.

 

[Cippy91]

3 game winning streak, hope tonight we can make it 4 ad fall into a rythym. Must see collins next to nurk. Either way I think Collins getting minutes is huge and really improves the defense