The Portland Trail Blazers will tell you they pulled out last night’s 124-118 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves because of pride.
It was pride that helped the Blazers get physical, beating Minnesota on the boards 45-28, while they only surrendered four offensive rebounds to a team that flexes the vaunted Rudy Gobert in the middle. It was pride at the forefront of the smaller Anfernee Simons battling Gobert on switches in the post in the second half, making the 7-footer earn every touch. And above all else, it was pride that ignited a 27-8 run between the 4:48 mark of the third quarter and the 8:39 mark of the fourth.