MINNEAPOLIS – When the Timberwolves went into Portland on Saturday and defeated the Trail Blazers, 122-110, it was the first Minnesota win at the Rose Garden since December 2005.
That's momentous, to say the least, especially because the win was one of the team's most commanding this season. But it's no reason to get complacent, to believe that Wednesday night's game will be an easy task.
The Timberwolves haven't beat Portland at the Target Center since March 25, 2007, and though Wednesday night might be their best shot to snap that home losing streak, the Trail Blazers are a far better team than their 19-19 record indicates, Kevin Love said.
It took a 42-point performance from Love to defeat Portland on Saturday, and it should take a similar effort Wednesday night.
"They're a very good team," Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman said. "I don't know what went on. They lost a number of games. This season, I think it happens, teams go through a rough period because of the schedule, because of who they're playing… There's no time to recuperate. This is a really good team."
Despite the talent that Adelman and Love see in this year's Portland team, there's no way to ignore its dismal 5-12 road record. The Timberwolves have gone 11-10 this year at home, and despite players' constant claims that the team needs to play as well at home as it has on the road, since Feb. 1 the Timberwolves have gone 6-3 at the Target Center.
Minnesota has won its past four games at home, dating back to Feb. 15 against Charlotte. A win Wednesday would give it its longest home winning streak since 2006-07.
Sure, the Timberwolves snapped a 16-game losing streak against Portland on Saturday. But they're still 1-16 against the Trail Blazers since that win in March 2007, with a lot more to overcome. Adelman said he wouldn't be surprised if Portland went on a long winning streak soon, and he thinks it's a playoff team. That's bad news for the Timberwolves all around. Not only do they need this win to give a bigger cushion between them and .500, but they also need to drive a wedge between themselves and the Trail Blazers, who are just a half a game behind the Timberwolves in the Western Conference standings.
There's a lot riding on Wednesday night's game as the Timberwolves prepare for a seven-game road trip. But really, it's no more than what will be riding on every game for the rest of the season, and that's the scariest part.
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