McDaniels, Reid power short-handed Wolves over Portland

By Jace Frederick, Pioneer Press – February 9, 2025

Minnesota was without Anthony Edwards, Mike Conley, Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle on Saturday at home, taking on a Portland team that had won five of six games, and 10 of its last 11 to sneak back into the fringe of the Western Conference play-in picture.

It had all the looks of an availability loss for Minnesota.

The Wolves had other plans.

A couple guys who have long looked primed for bigger offensive roles received them out of necessity, and took full advantage as Minnesota beat the Trail Blazers 114-98.

“One of my favorite wins of the year,” Wolves coach Chris Finch said. “I really liked the spirit of the team.”

Jaden McDaniels scored 30 points without the help of a single made 3-pointer and had 10 rebounds. He played offense with the same tenacity with which he usually attacks the defensive end, allowing no one to get between him on the rim on his drives.

“Tonight, Jaden was the head of the snake,” Naz Reid said on the floor after the game.

Reid was awfully good, himself. He buried five triples in the win on his own bobblehead night. He was the offensive source Minnesota rode late in the third quarter and early in the fourth to storm back from a double-digit deficit to seize total command. Reid finished with 23 points and eight rebounds.

Wolves guard Jaylen Clark noted Minnesota was determined to not let Saturday’s bout be a repeat of the last time it was sans Edwards, a loss to the lowly Wizards.

“What happened against Washington couldn’t happen again,” Clark said. “This time we had Naz, though.”

The multi-faceted big man is proving to be that level of difference maker.

Others were great, as well. Nickeil Alexander-Walker tallied 21 points, six assists and five rebounds while burying four 3-pointers. Rudy Gobert had a double-double while successfully patrolling the paint in the second half as Minnesota dominated the game defensively down the stretch.

Portland scored just two points over a five-plus minute span in the middle of the fourth to allow the Wolves to pull away. The Blazers went 3 for 22 from the field in the fourth.

Aiding in Gobert’s defensive efforts was Clark, who continues to be an absolute game wrecker in his first healthy season in the pros. Clark finished three steals. For years now, the short-handed Wolves prove to be a hungry, dangerous pack.

“The next man stepping up,” McDaniels said. “(Young guys) coming out ready to play, hungry to play. They come out and they hoop.”

PHOTO: Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert shoots against Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)