Blazers heat up from long range, shoot down Timberwolves
Jerami Grant scored 21 points and Robert Williams III added 19 as the Portland Trail Blazers beat the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves 122-108 in the NBA Cup opener for both teams on Tuesday night.
Seven players scored in double figures for Portland, which made a season-high 18 3-pointers and snapped a three-game losing streak.
Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avdija scored 17 points apiece, Toumani Camara and Scoot Henderson each added 14, and Dalano Banton netted 12.
Naz Reid came off the bench to lead Minnesota with a season-high 28 points. Anthony Edwards scored 26, Jaden McDaniels had 17, and Julius Randle scored 11.
After shooting 4-of-42 (9.5 percent) from 3-point range in a 134-89 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, the Blazers shot a season-high 56.2 percent (18 of 32) from deep against Minnesota.
Williams added nine rebounds, three blocks and three steals for Portland, which went ahead 12-10 in the first quarter and never trailed again. The teams meet again on Wednesday night, also in Portland.
The Wolves trailed by 19 at the start of the fourth quarter before cutting the deficit to 105-94 with 5:38 remaining.
Portland responded by scoring the next eight points to help secure the victory and snap a five-game losing streak against Minnesota.
Minnesota had more turnovers (seven) than field goals (six) in the first quarter and trailed 28-17 at the end of the period after Banton made a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Portland pushed its lead to 14 on Sharpe's trey with 8:13 left in the second quarter and were ahead 60-53 at halftime.
Portland shot 12 of 20 (60 percent) from beyond the arc in the first half and led 77-67 after Camara drilled a 3-pointer with 6:37 left in the third quarter.
The Blazers' 3-point barrage continued as Avdija hit a trey at the buzzer to end the third quarter. Portland led 93-74 entering the final period.
Blazers guard Anfernee Simons exited the game in the first quarter with a chest injury and did not return.
Rudy Gobert had nine points and eight rebounds for Minnesota, which committed 21 turnovers.
