Although the Timberwolves are fighting for a position in the Western Conference play-in round, the Trail Blazers have been eliminated from playoff contention.
There aren’t many games left in the NBA regular season, and teams are starting to strategize for the playoffs or the draft lottery. The Portland Trail Blazers, a team on the decline, will play the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.
The latest Injury Report for Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Minnesota started the season 0-2, but on January 4th, they defeated Portland 113-106.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are dealing with a roster-wide virus that has hit at the worst possible time.
On Sunday, the Minnesota Timberwolves (39-39) will host the Portland Trail Blazers (32-45), who will once again fall short of making the postseason.
Rudy Gobert and Anthony Edwards are the two players that are giving us cause for concern right now. Will they be there for the game on Sunday? Let’s keep in step with us.
- Rudy Gobert
Today’s game versus the Blazers will undoubtedly include Rudy Gobert‘s participation in some capacity.
- Anthony Edwards
Anthony Edwards’ status for Sunday’s game against the Trail Blazers is in doubt due to sickness.
Edwards has struggled since returning from an ankle injury, shooting 41.8 percent from the field, 29.6 percent from deep, and 53.3 percent from the free throw line in that span.
He is still affected by a virus that has spread through the Minnesota locker room. Karl-Anthony Towns (ankle, flu)
With four games left, the Wolves have dropped to ninth place in the Western Conference.
Take a look at what the Timberwolves were doing before the game.
On Saturday, the Timberwolves led the 11th-place Dallas Mavericks by 1 1/2 games; the top 10 teams in the Western Conference would advance to a play-in round.
Wolves guard Anthony Edwards was one of several players to struggle with illness in Friday’s 123-111 home defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers. Edwards finished with 11 points on 4-of-16 shooting.
At one point in the third quarter, Minnesota held a 13-point lead over the Lakers.
Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chuck Hitchcock isn’t apologizing despite the fact that Karl-Anthony Towns, Taurean Prince, Mike Conley, Austin Rivers, and Kyle Anderson have all been sick during the past week.
Naz Reid, a forward for the Wolves, broke his left wrist in Wednesday’s game against the Phoenix Suns and will be sidelined for an extended stretch.
Towns had 23 points and Conley had 25 points and seven assists against the Lakers; the Wolves will finish the season with road games against the Brooklyn Nets and San Antonio Spurs before hosting the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Timberwolves Injury
| PLAYER | INJURY |
STATUS
|
| Anthony Edwards | Illness |
Game Time Decision
|
| Karl-Anthony Towns | Calf |
Game Time Decision
|
| Austin Rivers | Illness |
Game Time Decision
|
| Naz Reid | Wrist |
Expected to be out until at least May 12
|
| Jaylen Nowell | Knee |
Game Time Decision
|
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The Blazers have dropped their last five games, and 11 of their last 12. On Friday, they suffered yet another setback, this time at the hands of the Sacramento Kings, 138-114.
Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups noted,”It always sucks to lose,” “To get to this point in the season, I didn’t think we would be here last year, to be honest with you, but we are. These games are tough. Tough on me, tough at all levels.”
Rookie guard Shaedon Sharpe has been a bright spot, as he averaged 24.3 points per game over the last six games and scored 27 points against the Kings.
“He’s seeing so many new things every single night,” Billups added. “He’s going to be fine. He learns things so quickly. We’ll go over things and watch film and talk about what we need and, boom, right away he knows how to do it. He’s doing good.”
Damian Lillard (right calf), Jusuf Nurkic (right knee), Anfernee Simons (right foot), and Jerami Grant (left quad) are all questionable for Sunday’s game, and the Blazers are already looking ahead to next year.
| PLAYER | INJURY |
STATUS
|
| Anfernee Simons | Foot |
Expected to be out until at least Apr 4
|
| Trendon Watford | Ankle |
Game Time Decision
|
| Nassir Little | Ankle |
Expected to be out until at least Apr 4
|
| Cam Reddish | Back |
Game Time Decision
|
| Jerami Grant | Quadriceps |
Expected to be out until at least Apr 4
|
| Jusuf Nurkic | Knee |
Expected to be out until at least Apr 4
|
| Damian Lillard | Calf |
Out for the season
|
| Keon Johnson | Finger |
Expected to be out until at least Apr 8
|
| Justise Winslow | Ankle |
Out for the season
|
| Ibou Badji | Knee |
Expected to be out until at least Aug 1
|
