GAME THREAD: WOLVES @ BLAZERS - FEB. 23, 2014 - SUNDAY, 6 PM (PST), CSNNW

[Darkwebs]

WHEN: 6:00 PM, SUNDAY, 2/23/2014​

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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S T A R T E R S

PG

RICKY RUBIO VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

CHASE BUDINGER VS WESLEY MATTHEWS

SF

COREY BREWER VS NICOLAS BATUM

PF

DANTE CUNNINGHAM VS DORELL WRIGHT

C

KEVIN LOVE VS ROBIN LOPEZ





BENCH ROTATION

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

BAREA , MUHAMMAD , HUMMEL , MBAH-A-MOUTE , DIENG

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

WILLIAMS , MCCOLLUM , BARTON, CLAVER , ROBINSON



INJURIES
TIMBERWOLVES
Kevin Martin: OUT (fractured left thumb)
Nikola Pekovic: OUT (right ankle)
Ronny Turiaf: OUT (right knee bone bruise)
TRAIL BLAZERS
LaMarcus Aldridge: OUT (left groin strain)
Joel Freeland: OUT (right knee sprain)
Meyers Leonard: OUT (left ankle sprain)





HEAD COACHES

- VS –

RICK ADELMAN--- TERRY STOTTS



BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Sunday will mark the fourth and final regular season meeting between Portland and Minnesota.

• The Trail Blazers have won 23 of the last 26 regular season meetings against the Timberwolves.

• Portland has won 12 of the past 13 games against Minnesota at home.

• Nine out of the last 13 matchups between the two teams have been decided by 10 points or greater.

• Portland has scored at least 100 points in 10 straight games against the Timberwolves.

• The Timberwolves won the first matchup, 120-109, against the Trail Blazers on Dec. 18 in Minnesota, but Portland evened the series by defeating Minnesota 115-104 in the second regular season matchup on Jan. 25 in Portland. The Trail Blazers went on to win the third matchup on Feb. 8, 117-110, in Minnesota.

• Off the bench, CJ McCollum recorded 19 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals in the Feb. 8 matchup.

• LaMarcus Aldridge scored a team high 21 points while Robin Lopez recorded his 17th double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds on the Jan. 25 contest.

• Timberwolves Head Coach Rick Adelman played three seasons with the Trail Blazers from 1970-73. Adelman later served as head coach of the squad from 1989-94, earning two Western Conference titles.

• Timberwolves forward Dante Cunningham played for the Trail Blazers from 2009 until he was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats on February 24, 2011.

• Minnesota guard A.J. Price was teammates with Portland guard Earl Watson during the 2009-10 season while playing for the Indiana Pacers.

• Earl Watson and Minnesota forwards Kevin Love, Shabazz Muhammad and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute all played collegiate basketball at UCLA.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 70-27
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 38-11
IN MINNEAPOLIS: Trail Blazers lead, 32-16

GO BLAZERS!!!​

 

[KingSpeed]

We really have to win this game but it will be very difficult. I'm worried.

 

[Strenuus]

Latest on pek, from rotowire:

Pekovic still is experiencing pain in his ankle that he said is manageable as long as it doesn't grow worse, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Spin: Pekovic was said to be close to returning, but didn't play Saturday. He's participated in practice, so it sounds like he'll be back soon. However, it sounds like his ankle could limit his minutes the rest of the season

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Anne M. Peterson ‏@AnnieMPeterson Adelman says Pekovic and KMart are still out for the TWolves game against the Blazers.

 

[Strenuus]

Anne M. Peterson ‏@AnnieMPeterson Adelman says Pekovic and KMart are still out for the TWolves game against the Blazers.

Phew.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Man the sound is awful... Like it's in 8-bit. HCP get this fixed

 

[Strenuus]

The radio even sounds a bit low and funky.

 

[Strenuus]

If I was sitting behind the Blazers bench right now, I'd yell:

"HEY LILLARD, Don't crowd Rubio! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!"

 

[Strenuus]

Batum with the first 2 points.

 

[Strenuus]

Oh Lillard is making a statement with these at-the-rim buckets. Love it.

 

[Strenuus]

Would you put Batum on Love?

 

[Strenuus]

Claver in for Wright... hmmm...

 

[Strenuus]

Batum for 3.

 

[rasheedfan2005]

I'm scared to watch this one ill watch replay if outcome looks good. Just got out of church would be a shame to break things and cuss so soon

 

[Strenuus]

I knew Love was going to go off... but damn.

 

[Darkwebs]

Our defense is lousy. The Wolves have scored on every possession down the court

 

[Strenuus]

Who's the number 3 seed tonight? lol.

 

[Natebishop3]

I would rather Rubio take 30 shots, rather than rotate and leave someone open. Make the fucker shoot.

 

[Hobbesarable]

Not the start we were hoping for. Bummer.

 

[Strenuus]

I would rather Rubio take 30 shots, rather than rotate and leave someone open. Make the fucker shoot.

This is the 4th meeting in about 2 1/2 months... Do they not know to just double the ball the entire damn time and leave rubio open on the perimiter? GAH!

 

[VenomXL]

Woof.

 

[Natebishop3]

This is the 4th meeting in about 2 1/2 months... Do they not know to just double the ball the entire damn time and leave rubio open on the perimiter? GAH!

I really don't get it.

 

[Strenuus]

Damian starting early.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Tone ‏@tone_harvey Waiting for the @trailblazers vs T-wolves game to start! So far it seems to be just the T-wolves playing on the floor!

 

[Darkwebs]

Finally we got a stop

 

[Natebishop3]

I think we're the only team in the league that doesn't get HCA with the refs.

 

[Strenuus]

And 1 for batum.

 

[B-Roy]

Lillards defense is causing all this madness.

 

[KingSpeed]

I'll be impressed if we win this.

 

[Natebishop3]

This is a replay of the game in Minnesota where Minny just was on fire in the first half.