After rallying past Bulls, Wolves eye another win over Blazers
Fri Nov 8 6:34am ET
Field Level Media
The Minnesota Timberwolves will go for their third win in a row when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night in Minneapolis.
Minnesota rallied for a wild 135-119 road win against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night. The Timberwolves outscored the Bulls 45-24 in the fourth quarter to earn the comeback victory.
All five Timberwolves starters plus sixth man Donte DiVincenzo scored in double digits, led by Anthony Edwards with a game-high 33 points to go along with eight rebounds and six assists. Julius Randle finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Mike Conley also had a double-double (14 points, 11 assists).
Next comes a matchup with Portland, which also will play on short rest after losing 118-105 on the road against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night. Jerami Grant and Deandre Ayton scored 21 points apiece to lead the Trail Blazers, and Anfernee Simons added 19.
Portland has lost three of its past four games and six of nine to start the season.
One bright spot for the Trail Blazers was the return of guard Shaedon Sharpe, who made his season debut on Thursday. Sharpe missed the first eight games of the season because of a left shoulder injury.
Against the Spurs, Sharpe finished with 13 points on 6-for-9 shooting. He played 20 minutes off the bench, and that number could climb as he gets into game shape.
"I thought Shaedon played really well," Portland coach Chauncey Billups said. "He looked very comfortable."
The Trail Blazers know that a trip to Minnesota could be anything but comfortable. The Timberwolves have won five of eight to start the season after reach the Western Conference finals last spring.
Minnesota big man Rudy Gobert said he and Edwards are focusing on being more effective in the pick-and-roll game this season. Gobert has frequently set screens for Edwards, rolled toward the rim and caught a pass for a high-percentage shot.
"We've been working," Gobert said. "Every year, his playmaking has gotten better and better. This is the year where I feel like he's really about to see what is happening on the floor, and he's really confident in making those (plays).
"Whether it's the bounce pass or whether it's the lob, he's able to make those passes. So, it's just on me to get him open and then get open and finish the play and make the right play."
On the other end of the court, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch is looking to see more consistency from his team.
"The on-ball (defense) compete and contain, that's where we were elite last year and we've been patchy this year," Finch said. "It starts with Jaden (McDaniels) and Anthony in particular, and then Rudy at the rim. Those three, that's the triangle of our defense."
The Timberwolves won all four games they played against the Trail Blazers a season ago. In the most recent contest, Gobert led Minnesota with 25 points and 16 rebounds in a 119-114 victory at Minneapolis on March 4. Simons was Portland's top scorer with 34 points.
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Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze (ankle) will return to action in Wednesday's matchup against Philadelphia. He's back after missing Tuesday's game against the Knicks with an ankle sprain. The Georgian big man opened the month with a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double against Brooklyn and has performed well since November. Last month, he averaged 9.4 points and 7.8 rebounds with 1.9 blocks. Philadelphia is tied for the second-lowest rebounding rate in the league, putting Bitadze in a solid position to produce another double-double on Wednesday.
Los Angeles Lakers forward/center Anthony Davis (foot) will play against Miami on Wednesday. The team has upgradEd Davis from probable to available. The star big man will look to produce a bounce-back performance after being limited to 12 points on 4-for-14 shooting against Minnesota on Monday. It's not a good matchup for Davis, as he will go head to head against All-Defense First Team member Bam Adebayo. Last season, Davis averaged only 19.0 points and 11.5 rebounds against Adebayo and the Heat.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (back) won't play in Thursday's game against the visiting Bulls. The 20-year-old has a case of lower back soreness. But the Spurs also play on Friday against Sacramento, so the team may just be playing it safe. As expected, Wembanyama has had a quality year, averaging 23.5 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.4 blocks, and 1.3 steals. As a result, there will be plenty of shots up for grabs, with Chris Paul, Stephon Castle, and Jeremy Sochan potentially on tap to get more scoring opportunities. Zach Collins should also slide into Wemby's spot in the rotation and is worth streaming in all fantasy formats.
According to Brooklyn Nets beat reporter Erik Slater, guard Ben Simmons (back) is available to play against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. Simmons sat out Monday's game against the Bulls for back-injury management. In his most recent appearance against the Orlando Magic on Sunday, the veteran guard logged 12 minutes, collecting five assists, two rebounds, and one steal. However, he was held scoreless in the contest.
Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson (ankle) is available for Wednesday's meeting with the Indiana Pacers. The former Phoenix Sun has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. However, his absence in Monday's loss to Chicago was only his first of the 2024-25 campaign. Johnson has also averaged a career-high 18.1 points while shooting 42.2% from deep. With Cam Thomas (hamstring) sidelined, Johnson should continue to get more scoring opportunities than usual against an Indiana team that has allowed 119.1 points per game this season, the third-worst mark in the National Basketball Association.
Miami Heat forward/center Kevin Love (back) will suit up for Wednesday's contest against the Lakers. Battling back spasms, Love sat out the second leg of a back-to-back on Monday versus Boston. Love's contributions have been limited to 6.6 points and 5.6 rebounds this season. He only plays around 12 minutes per game, so Love remains a good per-minute performer, but the veteran doesn't have a big enough role on the team to be relevant in fantasy basketball on most nights.
Brooklyn Nets forwardDorian Finney-Smith(ankle) is unavailable for Tuesday's matchup with the Indiana Pacers due to a sprained left ankle. The 31-year-old will miss his fourth consecutive game. This season, he has been a key rotational piece for the Nets, averaging 10.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists across 29 minutes per contest. With Finney-Smith sidelined, Jalen Wilsonis expected to remain in the starting lineup.
According to Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse, the team isn't planning on keeping center Joel Embiid (knee) out beyond what is necessary. The 30-year-old has appeared in only four games this season. However, there hasn't been much update regarding his health, so fantasy managers remain in the dark regarding when they can expect to see him back on the court. With Andre Drummond (ankle) sidelined, Philadelphia will likely continue to rely on Guerschon Yabusele, who has averaged 10.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in six starts during the 2024-25 campaign. Adem Bona should also continue to see more minutes.
Milwaukee Bucks forward/center Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) is good to go for Wednesday's clash against Atlanta. Per Eric Nehm of The Athletic, Bucks head coach Doc River has confirmed Antetokounmpo will be available for the contest after the team listed him as probable on the injury report. The former MVP is coming off a 28-point performance against Detroit on Tuesday night, which included seven rebounds, eight assists, and one block in 28 minutes. Antetokounmpo didn't play his full minutes against the Pistons and, thus, should be fresh for Wednesday's contest. Last season, the Hawks had no idea what to do against Antetokounmpo, who averaged 31.3 points, 12.7 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 2.0 steals in the matchup.
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (knee) will play against the Lakers on Wednesday. Miami gets its veteran star back after Butler sat out Monday's clash against Boston. He started to feel soreness in his right knee during Sunday's meeting with Toronto and was rested for the second night of a back-to-back. Butler's recent performances have been inconsistent, but there are two 30-point efforts among his most recent five appearances. The Lakers are ranked 24th in defensive efficiency, giving Butler another opportunity to fill it up on Wednesday.
Miami Heat forward/center Nikola Jovic (ankle) will rejoin the lineup for Wednesday's clash against the Lakers. He's missed five games with an ankle sprain and was also ruled out for Wednesday's contest on the initial injury report, but Jovic has apparently made big progress in his recovery over the last 24 hours. The 21-year-old has an inconsistent role with the Heat, averaging 18.2 minutes with eight starts in 14 appearances this season. He has notched 7.7 points and 3.7 rebounds.
Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (knee) will remain sidelined for a second consecutive game on Wednesday versus Detroit. This opens an opportunity for Payton Pritchard to play a major role in the contest. He finished with 25 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block as Boston defeated Miami 108-89 on Monday. At the same time, Drew Peterson has been a fresh face in the Celtics rotation lately and might be looking at another opportunity to log 25-plus minutes. However, he hasn't been very impactful for Boston.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (ankle) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Atlanta Hawks. Middleton, who is 33 years old, has yet to make his season debut, though he has been cleared for 5-on-5 scrimmaging. The team has not provided a specific timeline for his return, but his next opportunity to play will be Friday against the Boston Celtics. Fantasy managers are eager for Middleton to rejoin the lineup, as he remains a valuable all-around contributor despite a slight decline in scoring. Last season, he averaged 15.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists while shooting 49.3% from the field.
According to ESPN reporter Ohm Youngmisuk, Los Angeles Clippers guard/forwardNorman Powell(hamstring) will be unavailable Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. After recently missing six games with a left hamstring strain, Powell has the night off for the second half of a back-to-back set. He scored 30 points one day ago in Tuesday's 127-105 victory over the Trail Blazers. Terance Mann(finger) andKevin Porter(back) will also be sidelined on Wednesday.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (knee) will not play on Wednesday against Detroit. He's nursing an issue with his kneecap, sitting out his first game of the season. Tatum's absence boosts the usage of the rest of the Celtics starters, with Sam Hauser and Al Horford getting a chance to play larger roles for the team. Boston remains a -12.5 favorite for the contest, meaning there should be plenty of opportunities for the entire rotation.
Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (rest) will sit out Wednesday's matchup against the Brooklyn Nets. Nembhard has recently returned from a 12-game absence, playing in back-to-back contests, including a 19-minute outing against Toronto where he tallied six points and four assists. Wednesday will serve as a rest day as the team eases him back into action. In his absence, Quenton Jackson and T.J. McConnell could see more opportunities. So far this season, Nembhard has averaged 7.9 points, 4.6 assists, 1.0 steal, and 24.4 minutes per game.
Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson (rest) will sit out Wednesday's game against the Boston Celtics after playing 14 minutes in Tuesday's contest against the Bucks, where he contributed eight points and five rebounds. The Pistons are holding him out for injury maintenance, giving Ron Holland and Simone Fontecchio a chance to see additional minutes. Thompson, in his second year, has played just five games this season, averaging 15.2 minutes and 6.0 points per game, leaving fantasy managers hopeful for improvement as he regains full health.
Orlando Magic guard Gary Harris (hamstring) will remain sidelined for Wednesday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Harris has not played since November 25 and does not yet have a clear timetable for his return. The 30-year-old plays a minor rotational role for the Magic, averaging 16.5 minutes and 4.1 points per game this season. In his last appearance, he logged seven minutes and scored three points against Charlotte.
According to Tim Bontemps of ESPN, Philadelphia 76ers forwardPaul George (rest) will not play against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. The 34-year-old posted 29 points in Tuesday's NBA Cup victory over the Charlotte Hornets. He also played 37 minutes, so the team is staying cautious by sitting him in the second game of a back-to-back. WithJoel Embiid(knee, personal) also out,Tyrese Maxeycould receive more scoring opportunities.Jared McCainmay also move back to the starting lineup and should likely see an uptick in fantasy production.
The New Orleans Pelicans announced forward Zion Williamson (hamstring) is progressing well through rehabilitation and will be re-evaluated in two weeks. Barring any setbacks and with a tentative timeline in place, the 24-year-old could return on December 19th versus the Houston Rockets. The Pelicans may continue to proceed cautiously and not rush Williamson back, though. However, the team is desperate for help, sitting in last place in the Western Conference, with several injured players.
