PORTLAND – Given the late start time for the game, if viewers fell asleep or turned off Thursday's 128-91 Timberwolves victory over the Blazers after the first quarter, they might not think much happened between then and the final buzzer.
The Wolves won the first quarter by 30, and it seemed like all was well in the final game before the All-Star break. But they were hardly able to coast after such a hot start. They lost focus and let the Trail Blazers back in the game over the next 18 minutes of game action.
Midway through the third, just when it looked like this threatened to join the list of calamitous losses they accused in recent weeks, the Wolves, and in particular Anthony Edwards, made sure it didn't.