Portland Trail Blazers vs Minnesota Timberwolves Picks and Predictions November 12th 2024

Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves November 12th 2024

At 10:00 ET, the Timberwolves (-381) will travel to Portland to take on the Trail Blazers (+301). The over/under line for this division matchup is set at 218.5.

Minnesota is favored by 8.5 points and comes into the game with a 6-4 record. Portland is 3-8 and has lost three straight. KATU will have the TV coverage from the Moda Center.

Timberwolves vs. Trail Blazers Key Information

After a 95-94 loss to the Heat on Sunday, the Timberwolves are now 6-4 this season. Favored by 7 points at home, Minnesota not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. The game’s total points were 189, falling well short of the 219-point O/U line.

Minnesota went on an 11-0 run to take the lead, turning the score from 41-32 to 43-41. They led 71-68 going into the 4th quarter but were outscored 27-23 in the final period.

In their 95-94 loss to the Heat, the Timberwolves struggled offensively, shooting just 39.8% from the field and 28.9% from three-point range. Anthony Edwards led the way with 22 points and 6 assists, despite hitting only 33.3% of his shots and 28.6% from deep, where he made 4 threes.

Julius Randle contributed 17 points and 6 rebounds, while Naz Reid added 15 points, connecting on 4 threes at a 57.1% rate. Nickeil Alexander-Walker chipped in 12 points, with 7 coming in the 4th quarter.

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The Timberwolves put up a strong defensive effort, holding the Heat to 95 points, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win. Their best quarter came in the 3rd, where they allowed just 16 points. Overall, Minnesota gave up 27 points in both the 1st and 4th quarters and 25 in the 2nd.

From beyond the arc, the Timberwolves limited Miami to 11 threes on 35% shooting. They also sent the Heat to the line 22 times, where they hit 16 free throws. Minnesota finished with 31 defensive rebounds, gave up 6 offensive boards, and recorded 13 steals and 5 blocks.

Portland’s season continued to unravel on Sunday with a 134-89 home loss to the Grizzlies, dropping them to 3-8. Despite being just +1 point underdogs, the Blazers failed to cover the spread, losing by 45 points. The game’s total of 223 points narrowly missed the O/U line of 226.5.

Memphis took control early with a 12-0 run, stretching the score from 9-7 to 19-9. Portland couldn’t recover, as they were outscored 31-17 in the 1st quarter. The Grizzlies continued to dominate, especially in the 3rd quarter, where they outscored the Blazers 42-24, putting the game out of reach.

The Trail Blazers struggled offensively in their loss to the Grizzlies, managing just 89 points on 34% shooting. They connected on only 4 three-pointers, shooting 9.5% from beyond the arc.

Jerami Grant led Portland with 20 points, scoring 8 in the 1st quarter and another 7 in the 3rd. Dalano Banton and Donovan Clingan each added 13 points, with Clingan scoring 8 in the final period.

The Trail Blazers struggled defensively against the Grizzlies, giving up 134 points on Sunday. Portland allowed 31 points in the 1st quarter and 33 in the 2nd before a 42-point 3rd quarter from Memphis. The Blazers gave up 28 points in the 4th.

Portland allowed Memphis to shoot 55% from the field, including 16 threes at a 37% clip. The Grizzlies also went 24/28 from the free-throw line. The Blazers finished with 27 defensive rebounds, allowing 10 offensive boards, while recording 9 steals and 3 blocks.

Coming in as the underdogs at +8.5, we have the Trail Blazers as the way to go on the point spread. Not only do we have them covering, but our projections show they have a good one of winning this one straight-up, if you’re looking for a higher payout on the moneyline.

As for the over/under, the the line is currently at 218.5, and our model projects the Timberwolves and Trail Blazers to reach a combined total of 312 points. Our bet is on taking the over.

Blazers Look to Bounce Back After Embarrassing Loss Against Wolves

The Portland Trail Blazers are hoping to turn things around quickly after an “embarrassing” performance as they prepare to host the Minnesota Timberwolves in the opening game of their NBA Cup group play on Tuesday night. Both teams are coming off tough losses, making this matchup an opportunity for redemption.

Wolves Looking to Rebound After Narrow Loss

The Minnesota Timberwolves are trying to shake off a disappointing 95-94 loss to the Miami Heat on Sunday. The game came down to the wire, with veteran guard Mike Conley missing a potential game-winning 3-pointer in the final seconds. The Wolves were plagued by turnovers, committing 20 in total, which contributed to their downfall.

After the game, coach Chris Finch took responsibility for some confusion during the closing possessions. Center Rudy Gobert, however, stressed that the loss was a collective failure. “We were in a position to win, and we weren’t able to close it out,” Gobert said. “None of us is perfect. We’re all gonna learn to be better.”

Minnesota is still adjusting to a major offseason shakeup, trading Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. Integrating these new pieces has been a work in progress for the Wolves, who made it to the Western Conference Finals last season.

Mike Conley, who has struggled with his shot this season (30.7% from the field), acknowledged the challenges of finding chemistry with a retooled roster. “It might’ve been easier last year,” Conley said. “Now, we’re trying to figure out what we do with what we have now.”

Despite the adjustments, the Timberwolves have had success against Portland, winning their last five meetings.

Blazers Reeling After Disastrous Loss to Grizzlies

The Portland Trail Blazers, meanwhile, are looking to regroup after a demoralizing 134-89 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday. Memphis was missing key players Ja Morant and Desmond Bane, but that didn’t stop them from dominating a lackluster Blazers squad.

Portland coach Chauncey Billups did not mince words after the game, calling his team’s effort “soft” and “embarrassing.” He expressed frustration over the lack of fight, saying, “It was like our guys just showed up because they had to be here and didn’t want to actually work.”

Jerami Grant led the Blazers with 20 points, while Dalano Banton and rookie Donovan Clingan chipped in with 13 points each off the bench. However, Portland’s overall performance was marred by poor shooting and turnovers. The Blazers shot an abysmal 4-of-42 (9.5%) from 3-point range and committed 23 turnovers.

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Shaedon Sharpe, who recently returned from a shoulder injury, made his first start of the season but struggled to find his rhythm, scoring just seven points on 3-of-10 shooting. Forward Deni Avdija, who came off the bench, missed all five of his shot attempts in just 13 minutes of action.

Key Matchups and What to Watch For

1. New-Look Wolves vs. Struggling Blazers Defense: Minnesota is still figuring out how to integrate Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo into their system. Portland’s defense, which allowed 134 points to a shorthanded Memphis squad, will need to tighten up if they hope to contain the Wolves’ versatile lineup.
2. Rebounding Battle: Rudy Gobert remains a dominant force in the paint, and if Portland wants to stay competitive, they’ll need to crash the boards and limit Minnesota’s second-chance opportunities.
3. Shaedon Sharpe’s Return to Form: The Blazers are hoping Sharpe can regain his confidence and scoring touch after a rough start to the season. With Deni Avdija struggling, Portland needs Sharpe to step up and provide a spark on both ends of the floor.

NBA Cup Stakes: Time to Reset

This game marks the beginning of NBA Cup play for both teams. For the Wolves, it’s an opportunity to regain some momentum after a tough loss, while the Blazers are simply looking to save face after a disastrous showing on Sunday. The NBA Cup provides a fresh slate, and both teams will be eager to start the tournament on a high note.

Can the Blazers Find Redemption?

The Trail Blazers are hoping that playing in front of their home crowd will provide the energy boost they need to bounce back. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves are looking to refocus and build chemistry as they navigate their new roster dynamics.

Will Portland respond to their coach’s harsh words with a spirited performance, or will the Timberwolves take advantage of a vulnerable Blazers squad? With both teams desperate for a win, this game promises to be an intense showdown as they kick off their NBA Cup campaigns.