PORTLAND, Ore. — In a competitive match on Wednesday evening, Shaedon Sharpe delivered an impressive performance with 33 points, while Donovan Clingan came close to achieving a triple-double with 17 points, 13 rebounds, and eight blocks. The Portland Trail Blazers secured a victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves, marking their second consecutive win over the Wolves with a final score of 106-98.

Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 24 points, but the team was unable to maintain an early lead, resulting in their third consecutive loss of the season.

As the teams entered the fourth quarter tied, it was Portland that seized the momentum, bolstered by Clingan’s defensive prowess. Clingan recorded four blocks during the final quarter, forcing Minnesota to miss 10 of their first 11 attempts as the quarter began. Sharpe helped the Blazers extend their lead to double digits for the first time in the game with a couple of successful free throws, bringing the score to 89-78.

Takeaways:
Wolves: The Timberwolves were without their starting point guard, Mike Conley, for this matchup. After participating in the first two games of the back-to-back series this season, the decision to rest him was part of a broader strategy for the 37-year-old player. “We’re not generally a rest team … But we had the mindset this season to be a little more proactive with Mike,” explained Wolves coach Chris Finch.

Trail Blazers: Portland’s plans were also affected by their own injuries, as starting point guard Anfernee Simons did not play due to experiencing shortness of breath in the previous game. Head coach Chauncey Billups noted that Simons did not feel well and that further evaluations were anticipated, although Simons seemed untroubled by the situation. Portland also missed Robert Williams, who is resting during back-to-back games.

Key moment:
A highlight of the game was Sharpe’s electrifying put-back slam dunk with 5:26 remaining, which elevated Portland’s score to 91-83 and ignited excitement among the home fans.

Key stat:
The Timberwolves struggled significantly from beyond the arc, hitting only 7 out of 39 attempts (18%) in three-point shooting. Minnesota entered this game ranked fourth in the league for three-point shooting percentage.

Up next:
The Timberwolves will play against the Sacramento Kings on Friday, while the Trail Blazers will take a break until they face the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday.