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Wesley Matthews scored 23, LaMarcus Aldridge had 26 and 15 rebounds, and the Blazers rebounded from a loss to Memphis to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 107-93 Sunday night at Moda Center.
Mo Williams outscored Damian Lillard 21 to 17, but a team effort by Lillard, Matthews and Aldridge made the difference for the night. Along the way, Aldridge and coach Terry Stotts reached significant Blazer milestones:
With 15 rebounds tonight, LaMarcus Aldridge ties Buck Williams for fourth on Portland's all-time rebounding list (4,861).
— Trail Blazers PR (@TrailBlazersPR) December 1, 2014
Tonight marks the 100th win for Terry Stotts with the Trail Blazers. He is the eighth coach to lead Portland to at least 100 victories.
— Trail Blazers PR (@TrailBlazersPR) December 1, 2014
Portland struggled to contain former Blazer Mo Williams at the outset of the game, as he scored 11 in the first. LaMarcus Aldridge countered with 10 in the period on 5-of-8 shooting, but the other starters combined to shoot 2-of-8 in the period. With the outside shots not falling for the starters, Minnesota took a four point lead into the second quarter.
The defense for the Blazers cracked down on the Timberwolves in the second quarter, holding Minnesota to just 14 points. Williams and Andrew Wiggins combined for just two in the period after combining for 16 in the first. The Portland offense got a boost from Allen Crabbe off the bench, who drilled two of his three first-half threes in the period, and the Blazers closed the first half on a 17-4 run to take a 48-40 lead at halftime.
The good defense for Portland continued into half number two, and Wesley Matthews decided to put on a shooting display in the period. Matthews for 4-of-5 for 11 points in the period, and Portland expanded their lead to 14 after three.
Minnesota refused to go away in the fourth, as the teams traded baskets back-and-forth. Damian Lillard had 13 in the period to help Portland seal the game.
Lillard finished with eight assists, and Allen Crabbe had nine points off the bench.
Gameday Thread Comments of the Night
For all the layups they gave up, the Blazers still held MInny to 43% shooting, and 22% from 3. Lots of flaky offense tonight though.
by Epimenides
My was this a frustrating, but highly entertaining game. Oh well, good way to round out my Sunday.
by Bradley James McEachern
Once again: No trade proposals which include Wesley Matthews will be considered. That is all.
by occassia
Post-game Reaction
With 6 3’s tonight @wessywes2 becomes the NBA leader in 3’s made, and the ONLY @trailblazers with 6 or more in 3 consecutive games!
— Antonio Harvey (@tone_harvey) December 1, 2014
That's game... #Blazers defeat the #Timberwolves 107-93 ... finish the month of November with an 11-3 record....
— Jabari Young (@JabariJYoung) December 1, 2014
Matthews said #Blazers still has to improve transition D especially vs #Nuggets .. "they're not to happy with us," he said of Denver
— Jabari Young (@JabariJYoung) December 1, 2014
Lillard (gastroenteritis) said he felt better tonight ...Started to feel ill after loss To Memphis #Blazers
— Jabari Young (@JabariJYoung) December 1, 2014
I asked LaMarcus is Mo Williams knew Portland's sets: "He didn't even know his team's plays out there much less our plays."
— Mike Richman (@mikegrich) December 1, 2014
Terry Stotts on winning his 100th game as Trail Blazers coach: "I wish it had come against Memphis."
— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) December 1, 2014
Wesley Matthews on how he feels during his hot streak. "It's weird, I don't feel that great. My elbow is sore."
— Erik Gundersen (@blazerbanter) December 1, 2014
Aldridge (26 pts, 15 rebs) finished with his 7th double-double....also ties Buck Williams with 4,861 rebs, 4th most in #Blazers history
— Jabari Young (@JabariJYoung) December 1, 2014
"Just shows that being in this org. and working hard and trying to be better every year has paid off." — @aldridge_12 re: passing Buck
— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) December 1, 2014
Good win tonight ! & congratulations coach Stotts on your 100th win in Portland ! #WeAreRipCity
— Nicolas Batum (@nicolas88batum) December 1, 2014