MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Rudy Gobert had 24 points and 17 rebounds, Karl-Anthony Towns scored 23 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves cruised to a 116-93 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers yesteday.
Gobert returned after missing one game with left hip soreness. The twin tower duo of Gobert and Towns dominated an undermanned and young Portland squad that was on the second game of a back-to-back after losing 139-77 in Oklahoma City a night earlier, matching the fifth-biggest loss in NBA history.
Gobert and Towns combined to shoot 16 of 19 from the field and Towns was three of three from three-point territory.
“We want to see each other succeed,” Gobert said. “We want to be able to win together.
That’s unique. In this league, a lot of teams have egos. I think we’re both in a place in our career now where it’s about winning. Nothing else matters.”
Minnesota shot 55 per cent as a team, while holding the Trail Blazers to 39 per cent. Mike Conley returned to the lineup after missing a game to rest and had nine points and 10 assists.
Anthony Edwards finished with nine points for the Timberwolves, who ran their record to 14-3 at home this season. Gobert, Edwards and Conley didn’t play in the fourth quarter.
“Just be professionals, just come out and play with the standards that we’ve established for ourselves since day one here,” Towns said of facing a struggling Trail Blazers team.
“Defensively and offensively finding, again, another gear and get back to our groove.”
Duop Reath had 14 points for Portland, which lost six of seven in finishing a seven-game road trip. Jerami Grant added 13 points for the Trail Blazers.
