Trail Blazers Stage Comeback To Beat Timberwolves 109-103
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Damian Lillard overcame a slow start to finish with 19 points and seven assists and the Portland Trail Blazers rallied from 17 points down in the third quarter to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 109-103 on Saturday night.
C.J. McCollum added 17 points for Portland.
Lillard missed nine of his first 12 shots. But his driving layup with 18.8 seconds left helped hold off a charge from the Timberwolves, who also gave up a 17-point lead to the Blazers in their home opener on Nov. 2.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 27 points and 12 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who fell to 2-8 at home this season.
Al-Farouq Aminu scored 16 points and Meyers Leonard had 14 for the Blazers.
Lillard and McCollum combine to score more than 44 points per game this season. But they were a combined 3 for 13 for seven points in the first half.
The Wolves led 63-46 early in the third before McCollum sparked a surge with two 3s and a layup to cut it to 75-73. Lillard tied it with a drive, then finished the Wolves off in the fourth.
After the Wolves trimmed a six-point deficit to one, Lillard drilled a 3 and McCollum scored on a tough drive for a 100-94 lead with 3:32 to play.
Towns, the No. 1 overall pick, had played less than 3 minutes total in the fourth quarters of the four previous games. His lack of playing time had become a point of consternation among Timberwolves fans, with interim coach Sam Mitchell saying the team was trying to avoid burning out the 20-year-old so early in the season.
But with the way he was playing on Saturday night, Mitchell had to go back to him with 8:32 to play and the Wolves down four. Towns responded with a jumper, a putback and a 3-pointer that trimmed a seven-point deficit to two with 1:13 to play.
Towns had a chance to put the Wolves in front with another 3 from the left wing, but it was a little too strong.
TIP-INS
Trail Blazers: Portland commits more fouls per game than all but two teams. The Blazers had 15 fouls in the first half to give the Wolves 19 free throws. They only had six fouls in the second half.
Timberwolves: Minnesota brought former All-Star Gary Payton in for a visit this week to work with the point guards, in particular Zach LaVine. ... Kevin Garnett became the 15th player in NBA history to surpass 26,000 career points. ... Ricky Rubio added 15 assists and nine points.
UP NEXT
Trail Blazers: Visit Milwaukee on Monday.
Timberwolves: Host Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.
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