Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates after scoring during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 28, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. Jason Miller/Getty Images/AFP
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 36 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, Jaylen Nowell came off the bench to score 22 points, and the host Minnesota Timberwolves pushed past the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday, 135-121.
Towns finished 13-of-17 from the floor.
Nowell gave the Timberwolves a big boost in the second half, shooting 7-of-11 from the floor for 19 points, eight coming in the fourth quarter. He converted a pair of and-one opportunities in the final period that extended leads to two-possession margins.
KAT denial.
Jaylen 🪣🐺🐺🐺 pic.twitter.com/XER5eRQKeb
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) March 6, 2022
Nowell came into Saturday’s contest – the first of two straight for Minnesota against Portland – playing sparing minutes. His last appearance of more than 16:38 was on Feb. 1, but his 24:27 against the Blazers were crucial in helping the Timberwolves weather the ejection of Malik Beasley.
Beasley had 16 points when he was tossed midway through the third quarter after an altercation with Drew Eubanks.
Nowell came on to score Minnesota’s final five points of the third period and posted his 19 points after Beasley was sent off.
The Timberwolves closed the win – their fourth straight and fifth in the last six games – on a 17-5 run.
All five Minnesota starters scored in double figures, including D’Angelo Russell, who posted a double-double of 14 points and 15 assists. Jaden McDaniels and Jarred Vanderbilt joined Towns, Russell and Beasley with 16 and 14 points, respectively.
CAREER HIGH 15 ASSISTS FOR @Dloading 🧊 pic.twitter.com/XsVXrlBMzc
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) March 6, 2022
Portland’s Anfernee Simons led all scorers with 38 points for his fourth 30-point-plus outing since Feb. 12. He shot 9-of-17 from 3-point range, pacing the Blazers to a 11-of-25 night overall.
Keon Johnson shot 3-of-5 from deep and finished with 15 points, and Brandon Williams made 2-of-5 beyond the arc en route to a career-high 21 points off the bench for Portland. Eubanks, who Portland signed to a second 10-day contract earlier this week, scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
Trendon Watford registered a double-double of 12 points and 14 rebounds in the loss.