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Williams, Grant help Trail Blazers beat Timberwolves 122-108
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Williams, Grant help Trail Blazers beat Timberwolves 122-108

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Robert Williams and Jerami Grant each scored 19 points to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 122-108 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night.

Williams, who recently returned from a knee injury, also had nine rebounds and three assists.

Naz Reid led Minnesota with 28 points in the loss while star guard Anthony Edwards scored 26 points.

The Blazers, who entered the game as the second-worst 3-point shooting team in the NBA, shot a stunning 18-for-32 (56%) from behind the 3-point line.

The Blazers took a 28-17 lead after the first quarter, capped by a 3-pointer from Dalano Banton at the buzzer. Banton entered the game after Portland lost Anfernee Simons for the game with a chest injury and his replacement, Scoot Henderson, committed three fouls in the first quarter.

Takeaways

Timberwolves: Minnesota entered Tuesday’s sectional game having blown an 88-80 lead over the final five minutes against the Miami Heat on Sunday. Their coach Chris Finch blamed himself for the defeat. “I take responsibility for this whole match, which was a complete collapse in many ways. I didn’t have enough answers for the area,” Finch said. “It wasn’t a problem late in the game, but I thought the zone was really stifling us.”

Blazers: Donovan Clingan got the first start of his NBA career Tuesday night in place of Deandre Ayton, who missed the game with a sprained finger. He started the game with a block against Rudy Gobert on the first play of the game and picked up a steal a few possessions later.

Key moment

Portland made two 3-pointers late in the quarter, one from Banton to end the first quarter and another from Deni Avdija to end the third quarter.

Key statistic

The Blazers dominated bench scoring in Tuesday night’s game, outscoring Minnesota 64-39.

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NBA AP: