Timberwolves Vs Trail Blazers — timberwolves vs trail blazers: Game Preview #59
The timberwolves vs trail blazers matchup arrives on February 24th, 2026 at 9: 00 PM CST in Portland’s Moda Center. Minnesota pivots to this road trip after a demoralizing home loss and with several availability questions to monitor.
Standings and opportunity
The Timberwolves had a golden opportunity Sunday night: Denver lost, the Lakers lost and Houston stumbled, leaving the Western Conference standings wide open — "Hey Minnesota, would you like to be tied for the 3-seed?" the math seemed to ask. Instead, Minnesota’s position worsened after a crushing defeat that dropped them back toward the 6-seed and looming play-in territory.
What went wrong vs Philadelphia
Instead of seizing the moment, the Wolves were "absolutely shellacked by the Philadelphia 76ers on their own floor, " surrendering 135 points. Much of the damage came from deep: Philadelphia shot 57 percent from beyond the arc, making 21 threes on 37 attempts. Minnesota managed just 10-for-33 from long range — a 33-point differential from three-point shooting alone in a 27-point loss. That gap, the preview argued, was not bad luck but a defensive collapse rooted in perimeter breakdowns, late closeouts, sluggish rotations and poor point-of-attack defense.
Injury and availability notes
Rudy Gobert was suspended after the Marvin Bagley flagrant, removing the team’s Defensive Player of the Year center from the lineup. Naz Reid was out with shoulder soreness. Julius Randle was apparently under the weather, though he gave it a go. The preview warned that removing Gobert and Naz is more than losing size: "you’re not just losing size. You’re losing the defensive backbone and a key offensive release valve. " When Gobert is unavailable, the floor can drop out completely.
How Philadelphia exploited gaps
Philadelphia, on the second night of a back-to-back, looked comfortable early. Tyrese Maxey and company got comfortable, getting clean looks and knocking shots in rhythm. The preview emphasized that the Sixers weren’t merely making tough shots; they were finding open shooters because Minnesota’s closeouts were late and rotations were slow. The Wolves fell into trading baskets instead of defending, and Minnesota does not have the offensive consistency to win 135-130 style track meets every night.
Road trip and schedule ahead
The West remains jam-packed and margins are razor thin. Minnesota’s upcoming slate on this trip is Portland, then the Clippers in L. A., then a final showdown with Denver on March 1. The preview laid out the simple path: if the Wolves string together three wins on this trip, they would be right back in the mix and would have likely leapfrogged Denver — the three seed described as "sitting there. Waiting. " But the team must show up to earn that movement. Minnesota had just beaten Portland before the All-Star break, a fact noted as context for the upcoming matchup.
Broadcast and logistics
The game is set for February 24th, 2026 at 9: 00 PM CST at Moda Center. Television coverage is listed as Peacock. Radio coverage is listed as KFAN FM, Wolves App and iHeart Radio.
After a loss that highlighted defensive breakdowns, suspension and soreness-related absences, and shaky perimeter defense, Minnesota travels to Portland with position and momentum both in question. The next three games will determine whether the Wolves reclaim posture in the West or drift deeper toward play-in territory.
