Blazers vs Wolves Recap & Highlights: KAT, Simons Have Epic Showdown

Anfernee Simons and the Portland Trail Blazers (25-38) traveled to the Target Center to take on Karl-Anthony Towns and the Minnesota Timberwolves (36-29) in part of the NBA Saturday slate. It was the T-Wolves coming out on top with the 135-121 victory.

Simons did what he could to give his team a chance but it wasn’t enough, which ultimately was the expectation for a Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves matchup. In the end, Simons racked up 38 points, but Karl-Anthony Towns was just as brilliant with 36 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 assists along with more supporting cast help. A staggering 46-point third quarter from Minnesota proved to be the difference-maker.

It has been tough sledding for the Trail Blazers as of late and it was more of the same in this game. The team moved on from CJ McCollum, Norman Powell, and Robert Covington at the NBA trade deadline and has dealt with no shortage of injuries, most notably to Damian Lillard.

LATEST NBA NEWS: Blazers vs Timberwolves Saturday: Lineups, Injury Reports & Broadcast Info

Currently holding the seventh spot in the Western Conference standings, the Timberwolves just needed to take care of business against one of the struggling teams in the play-in hunt as they did in this game.

With LeBron James leading the Los Angeles Lakers, the Timberwolves will need to stay sharp if they seek to make it out of the play-in tournament when that time comes. It’s a good sign for Minnesota to be taking care of business against teams they are supposed to beat.

LATEST NEWS ON LAKERS’ STRUGGLES THIS NBA SEASON: When asked after the loss to the Clippers about if the team has talked about bringing Russell Westbrook off the bench, Lakers coach Frank Vogel said: “We’ve talked about everything.” READ MORE

NBA EXPANSION NEWS: The Charlotte Bobcats, now the Charlotte Hornets, were the last expansion team in the NBA back in 2004 and with more and more talent entering the league through the draft, plus the idea of equaling out “superteams” in the league, the NBA could serious re-open conversations about adding two more expansion teams to take the league to 32 total teams. READ MORE

Grant Afseth

Grant Afseth is an NBA reporter for NBA Analysis Network and Dallas Mavericks reporter for DallasBasketball.com. He previously covered the Indiana Pacers and NBA for CNHI's Kokomo Tribune and various NBA teams for USA TODAY Sports Media Group. Follow him on Twitter (@grantafseth), Facebook (@grantgafseth), and YouTube (@grantafseth).

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