NBA Preview from The Sports Network
Sunday, March 25th (All times eastern)
Portland Trail Blazers (29-40) at Minnesota Timberwolves (29-39), 3:30 p.m.
(Sports Network) - The Portland Trail Blazers aim for their fourth straight win today when they resume a four-game road trip against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center.
Portland has won three in a row and owns a 2-0 mark so far on the trek after Friday's 102-100 overtime win against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena. LaMarcus Aldridge scored six of his 27 points in overtime and ended with 14 rebounds, as the Blazers improved to 13-21 as the guest in 2006-07.
Brandon Roy added 23 points and nine assists for Portland, which has won three straight games since a four-game losing streak. Jarrett Jack scored 17 of his 18 points in the second half and overtime for Portland.
The Blazers, who will wrap up the trip on Monday at Chicago, are 4 1/2 games off the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. In injury news for Portland, forward Zach Randolph (bereavement leave) is probable for Sunday's game.
Minnesota has lost four of its last five games, including Friday's 85-82 setback against the Seattle SuperSonics at Key Arena.
Craig Smith scored 19 points and Kevin Garnett had 10 points and 22 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who completed a five-game road trip with a 1-4 record. Minnesota fell four games behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
The T'wolves will open a brief two-game homestand versus Portland and Seattle, and own a 19-13 mark at the Target Center this season.
Sunday's showdown between Portland and Minnesota is the fourth and final meeting of the regular season. The Blazers are 2-1 so far in the season series, but Minnesota has won seven of the last 11 meetings.
Portland has lost four of its last five trips to Minnesota.
03/25 10:51:04 ET