Timberwolves Vs Trail Blazers: McDaniels’ Historic Half Powers Minnesota to 124-121 Win at Moda Center
The timberwolves vs trail blazers clash at the Moda Center on February 24th, 2026 (9: 00 PM CST) finished with Minnesota edging Portland 124-121, a narrow victory that mixed a historic individual performance with broader team questions about consistency and the Western Conference race.
Timberwolves Vs Trail Blazers — Game Recap and Final Score
Minnesota eked out a 124-121 victory in a game that featured as many as 15 lead changes. Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 34 points, four assists and four rebounds, while Jaden McDaniels delivered a landmark performance, finishing with 29 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals and five blocks. The Wolves hit 17 of 35 from three-point range as a team, and Donte DiVincenzo provided a significant boost off the bench with 19 points on five three-pointers.
Jaden McDaniels’ historic half and company
McDaniels went 12-of-16 from the field and sank 5 of his 6 three-point attempts. That line made him the eighth player in NBA history to record a 13-3-1-2-5 statline. The roster of players who have posted that combination includes Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Lamar Odom and Chris Webber, who did it twice. The most recent occurrence before McDaniels was by Victor Wembanyama against the Los Angeles Clippers in 2024, a detail highlighted in a post on a social platform by Tomer Azarly. McDaniels also became the first player in NBA history to record at least 25 points on 75 percent shooting, five three-pointers, five blocks, and three steals in a single game.
Key performances and game flow
The matchup swung back and forth, with Anthony Edwards pouring in 25 points in the first half to spearhead Minnesota's scoring. Rudy Gobert, returning from a one-game suspension, commanded the paint with 19 rebounds, 10 points and two blocks. On Portland's side, Jrue Holiday top-scored with 22 points, Jerami Grant added 21, and Scoot Henderson supplied energy off the bench with 19 points, six rebounds and five assists. The contest's tight final margin underscored how every possession mattered across those 15 lead changes.
Earlier context: the Philadelphia loss, injuries and roster notes
Earlier in the week Minnesota suffered a heavy defeat at home, allowing 135 points to the Philadelphia 76ers. That loss arrived amid roster complications: Rudy Gobert had been suspended after the Marvin Bagley flagrant, Naz Reid was out with shoulder soreness, and Julius Randle was apparently under the weather though he gave it a go. In that loss Minnesota went just 10-for-33 from beyond the arc while the 76ers shot 57 percent from deep, making 21 of 37 attempts. The preview narrative described that game as one where Minnesota appeared to underperform despite facing an opponent on the second night of a back-to-back, and highlighted late closeouts, sluggish rotations and too many wide-open shooters for the opposition.
Standings implications and the remaining trip
Before the Philadelphia setback, Denver had lost, the Lakers had fallen, and Houston had stumbled, a sequence that briefly opened a pathway toward a tie for the 3-seed in the West. The loss shifted that math: Denver dropped to Golden State, the Lakers fell to Boston, and Houston stumbled against New York, leaving Minnesota staring at the 6-seed and play-in territory once more. The Western Conference remains jam-packed and the margin razor thin. Minnesota's upcoming itinerary on the trip listed Portland, then the Los Angeles Clippers in L. A., followed by a final showdown with Denver on March 1; the preview noted that if the Wolves string together three wins on this trip they could leapfrog Denver back into closer contention. The preview also recorded that Minnesota had beaten Portland before the All-Star break.
Logistics and broadcast notes
The matchup was listed for February 24th, 2026 at 9: 00 PM CST at the Moda Center, and the pregame materials noted that television and radio coverage were scheduled for the game. The Timberwolves will now face the Los Angeles Clippers next, while Portland is set to take on the Chicago Bulls as they try to close the gap to the. 500 mark.
Recent updates indicate these items reflect the latest game result and the immediate context; details about future results and health statuses may evolve.
