Sunday Wolves vs. Blazers, 8:00 p.m.Fox Sports North Plus, ESPN, 830 WCCO
Why you should be at Target Center:
The Wolves are looking to close out a SWEEP on their five-game homestand.
They’ve already taken down the Pelicans, Cavaliers, Thunder and Knicks,
respectively. Next up are the Blazers, who are five games back from the Wolves
for the No. 4 seed. As of Saturday afternoon, Minnesota is actually just a
half-game back from San Antonio for the No. 3 seed.
The tides are turning for the Wolves as they’ve won 10 of their last 13 games.
Minnesota enters the game with a 17-6 record at Target Center. For the first
time in a while, homecourt advantage is a real thing for the Wolves. They’ve
sold out their last six games, the first time that’s happened since the 1991-92
season.
The Blazers have lost their last two games, both on the road. This will be their
final road game before a three-game homestand. Minnesota holds the 1-0
season-series lead on Portland.
Opposing player I’ll be watching:
What a comeback. Shabazz Napier is relevant again. Over his last 13 games with
the Blazers, he’s averaging 14.6 points, 3.9 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game
while shooting 47.6 percent from the field and 39.2 percent from the 3-point
line.
His 10 points per game almost doubles his previous career high mark of 5.1 in
his rookie season. It seems like light years ago when Napier was traded to the
Heat on draft night in 2014, but he’s only 26 years old and has plenty of
basketball ahead of him, especially if he keeps playing like this.
.@ShabazzNapier continues his stellar play & dropped 21 PTS as the @trailblazers
defeated the Thunder in OKC! pic.twitter.com/If1LyEcR6c
Injuries:
Blazers: Evan Turner (illness) is questionable.
Wolves: No injuries to report.
Starting Lineups:
Blazers: PG – Lillard, SG – Napier, SF – McCollum, PF – Aminu, C – Nurkic
Wolves: PG – Teague, SG – Wiggins, SF – Butler, PF – Gibson, C – Towns
Player: Damian Lillard
Player: CJ McCollum
Player: Shabazz Napier
Player: Jusuf Nurkic
Player: Evan Turner
Media Content:
http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/scouting-report-wolves-trailblazers-1-14-2018
Media Keywords: NBA, Sports, Minnesota Timberwolves, Damian Lillard, CJ
McCollum, Shabazz Napier, Jusuf Nurkic, Evan Turner, Minnesota Timberwolves,
Portland Trail Blazers
Media Thumbnail:
http://i.cdn.turner.com/drp/nba/timberwolves/sites/default/files/sr-1-13-2018.jpg
Taxonomy: Scouting Report
Story Link:
http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/scouting-report-wolves-trailblazers-1-14-2018
