Timberwolves close homestand with win over Trail Blazers

Rudy Gobert had 25 points and 16 rebounds for Minnesota.

It wasn’t the smoothest of games for the Timberwolves.

Anthony Edwards was late getting out to the floor and missed the opening tip, forcing Nickeil Alexander-Walker to start in his place. Edwards also briefly exited during the third quarter and was listed as questionable to return to the game due to a right elbow contusion. And neither he nor Karl-Anthony Towns found much rhythm offensively. 

And a scrappy Portland Trail Blazers team hung around pretty much from start to finish Monday night at Target Center in Minneapolis. 

Nevertheless, the Wolves found their way to a 119-114 victory, an important one that snapped a two-game skid and vaulted them back atop the Western Conference. 

"We needed a win," Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. "... We got big games coming up, and we absolutely had to have this one." 

Edwards did return in the fourth quarter despite his questionable status, and he hit a 3-pointer that gave the Timberwolves (43-19) a 100-87 lead midway through the fourth quarter. But for most of the night, even before his brief exit due to injury, Edwards wasn't very aggressive offensively, playing pretty pass first. 

"I think Ant for sure tonight was looking to facilitate," Finch said. "We talked about just kind of getting that ball moving early, so everyone could catch it. He just has to make sure that he doesn't lose his aggressiveness. We still need him to be aggressive." 

Towns, meanwhile, also wasn't very aggressive. The Timberwolves' best two scorers combined for just six points in the first half, and Towns didn't find much of a rhythm until a brief scoring run in the third quarter. Towns finished with 14 points and four rebounds, while Edwards tallied 13 points, six assists and four rebounds. 

Rudy Gobert, however, was strong from start to finish and a force for Minnesota. He was crashing the offensive glass, finding chances for putbacks, being a force in the paint, and he provided a strong scoring output on a night that Towns and Edwards weren't on their games. Gobert finished with 25 points and 16 boards. 

"(Gobert) was really good on the glass, guys found him in and around the paint, took his time, he finished, he finished through contact, made his free throws," Finch said. "Really great game by him, and did a good job while waiting for the ball to come to him and staying patient." 

Anfernee Simons and Duop Reath kept the Trail Blazers (17-43) within reach all night, combining for 60 points. They both looked hungry. Simons had a tremendous game with 34 points, 14 assists and five rebounds. Reath had 26 and three boards. 

With Towns and Edwards held relatively quiet, it was a collective effort from Minnesota to replicate their production, with six players in all finishing in double figures. Mike Conley had 19 points and seven assists, Alexander-Walker had 13 points and Naz Reid put up 12 points and five rebounds. 

It wasn't the prettiest game, but the Timberwolves got the win and they're back atop the Western Conference standings as they get ready for the upcoming road trip. 

Final key stats

• Rudy Gobert: 25 points, 16 rebounds, 3 blocks, 1 steal 
• Mike Conley: 19 points, 7 assists, 3 steals, 2 rebounds
• Karl-Anthony Towns: 14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 assist
• Anthony Edwards: 13 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal 
• Nickeil Alexander-Walker: 13 points, 2 steals, 1 rebound, 1 assist
• Naz Reid: 12 points, 5 rebounds, 1 block