Blazers schedule lookahead: ‘Tanking’ this week’s games by level of impact
1. Sunday at Minnesota Timberwolves
If things go as planned against Sacramento and New Orleans, the Blazers will be looking at a road matchup with a fully healthy Timberwolves team to hopefully close out a winless week.
Karl-Anthony Towns recently returned from an extended spell on the injury list, and Anthony Edwards is back at full strength as well. That gives Minnesota an intact starting five.
Similar to the Pelicans and Kings, the T-Wolves will be motivated to rack up as many wins as possible before the end of the regular season. Minnesota sits seventh in the West at the start of the week, just a half-game behind the Warriors for sixth but only one game up on OKC for 10th.
7 players Portland gave up on too soon. dark. Next
None of Portland’s games this week are what anyone would necessarily deem “winnable.” But hitting a Minnesota team that’s struggled with fit all year and will be looking to get back into a rhythm heading into the postseason is perhaps the Blazers best shot at avoiding an 0-4 week.