Robert Williams III, Blazers look for repeat performance vs. Wolves
Portland big man Robert Williams III has just returned from a 12-month absence due to a major knee injury.
He's quickly displaying why the Trail Blazers missed him so much last season.
Williams dominated the first contest of a back-to-back set with the Minnesota Timberwolves and will look to repeat his performance when the teams meet again Wednesday night in Portland.
Tuesday's 122-108 victory over Minnesota marked Williams' third appearance of the season. He scored 19 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the field and recorded nine rebounds, three assists, three blocked shots and three steals in 25 minutes of action.
"I'm just blessed to be out here playing this game," Williams said afterward. "There's always light at the end of the tunnel."
Williams played just six games for Portland last season in his first campaign with the team before the season-ending injury. His absence left a major hole up front, and the squad's defense often was a problem.
"You guys have heard me since he's been here, raving about how happy I am to be able to coach him," the Trail Blazers' Chauncey Billups said after Tuesday's game. "He's just a winner. He does everything you need him to do.
"His feel for the game is very high-level, his IQ is really, really high-level. His rebounding, his blocked shots, his voice, he's so impactful."
Williams was one of seven Portland players to score in double digits Tuesday in a contest that was part of the NBA Cup. Both teams are in Group A.
Portland's Jerami Grant scored a team-best 21 points while Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avdija added 17 apiece. Toumani Camara and Scoot Henderson had 14 points each and Dalano Banton had 12.
Deandre Ayton (sprained finger) missed the contest, and Anfernee Simons played just five minutes due to chest pains. Billups said Simons underwent tests that came back normal, but he added that Simons will undergo "further testing" on Wednesday.
"He was experiencing a little shortness of breath out of nowhere," Billups said. "We wanted to be extra cautious."
Tuesday's performance was much different for Portland. Last Friday, the Timberwolves walloped the Trail Blazers 127-102 in Minneapolis.
Anthony Edwards drained nine 3-pointers and had 37 points in that contest, and Minnesota was 22 of 50 from 3-point range.
On Tuesday night, the Timberwolves were 13 of 35 from behind the arc. Edwards made four treys while scoring 26 points.
Naz Reid was Minnesota's leading scorer with 28 points on Tuesday.
What hurt the Timberwolves was their inability to take care of the ball. Minnesota committed a season-worst 23 turnovers that led to 25 Portland points.
"Just sloppiness, carelessness," Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. "Highly controllable ones."
Four different players committed four miscues. It marked the third straight game and the fourth time overall that the Timberwolves had at least 20 turnovers in a game this season.
"I think we got to get into more structure," Finch said of how the issues can be diminished. "Guys are trying to make the high-risk play a lot instead of the simple play."
Finch said some turnovers were due to players trying to force the ball inside to Rudy Gobert. The big man took just three shots, making two.
While Reid and Edwards combined for half of Minnesota's points, Jaden McDaniels performed well with 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field.
The Timberwolves had beaten Portland five straight times before Tuesday's loss.
--Field Level Media
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2:43 | +2 | Trail Blazers makes two point jump shot | 70-65 | |
2:45 | Donovan Clingan offensive rebound | |||
2:46 | Shaedon Sharpe misses three point jump shot | |||
3:00 | Kris Murray defensive rebound | |||
3:01 | Jaden McDaniels misses two point turnaround hook shot | |||
3:17 | Anthony Edwards misses three point running jump shot | |||
3:18 | Dalano Banton turnover | |||
3:17 | Trail Blazers defensive rebound | |||
3:18 | Dalano Banton personal foul (Loose ball) (Julius Randle draws the foul) | |||
3:17 | Anthony Edwards misses three point running jump shot | |||
3:21 | Deni Avdija turnover (lost ball) (Anthony Edwards steals) | |||
3:45 | Trail Blazers 60 second timeout | |||
3:45 | +2 | Julius Randle makes two point tip layup | 70-63 | |
3:45 | Julius Randle offensive rebound | |||
3:46 | Donte DiVincenzo misses two point running layup | |||
3:52 | Jaden McDaniels defensive rebound | |||
3:53 | Shaedon Sharpe misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | |||
4:08 | Jaden McDaniels personal foul (Scoot Henderson draws the foul) | |||
4:18 | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point running dunk (Donte DiVincenzo assists) | 68-63 | |
4:20 | Donte DiVincenzo defensive rebound | |||
4:21 | Toumani Camara misses two point tip layup | |||
4:21 | Toumani Camara offensive rebound | |||
4:23 | Jerami Grant misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | |||
4:43 | +2 | Jaden McDaniels makes two point running layup (Naz Reid assists) | 66-63 | |
4:48 | Scoot Henderson turnover (bad pass) (Naz Reid steals) | |||
4:53 | Kris Murray defensive rebound | |||
4:55 | Donte DiVincenzo misses three point jump shot | |||
5:14 | +2 | Kris Murray makes two point driving dunk (Scoot Henderson assists) | 64-63 | |
5:28 | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point driving floating jump shot | 64-61 | |
5:42 | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | |||
5:44 | Kris Murray misses three point jump shot | |||
5:53 | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point running dunk | 62-61 | |
5:55 | Scoot Henderson turnover (bad pass) (Anthony Edwards steals) | |||
6:06 | +1 | Anthony Edwards makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 60-61 | |
6:06 | +1 | Anthony Edwards makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 59-61 | |
6:06 | Trail Blazers 60 second timeout | |||
6:06 | Kris Murray shooting foul (Anthony Edwards draws the foul) | |||
6:37 | +3 | Scoot Henderson makes three point jump shot (Kris Murray assists) | 58-61 | |
6:39 | Kris Murray offensive rebound | |||
6:44 | Shaedon Sharpe misses three point running jump shot | |||
6:50 | Scoot Henderson defensive rebound | |||
6:54 | Julius Randle misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
7:12 | +1 | Shaedon Sharpe makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 58-58 | |
7:12 | Trail Blazers offensive rebound | |||
7:12 | Shaedon Sharpe misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
7:12 | Julius Randle shooting foul (Shaedon Sharpe draws the foul) | |||
7:16 | Anthony Edwards turnover (bad pass) (Shaedon Sharpe steals) | |||
7:31 | +3 | Shaedon Sharpe makes three point jump shot (Scoot Henderson assists) | 58-57 | |
7:37 | +2 | Jaden McDaniels makes two point tip layup | 58-54 | |
7:37 | Jaden McDaniels offensive rebound | |||
7:43 | Donovan Clingan blocks Jaden McDaniels's two point driving layup | |||
8:01 | +1 | Donovan Clingan makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 56-54 | |
8:01 | +1 | Donovan Clingan makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 56-53 | |
8:01 | Jaden McDaniels shooting foul (Donovan Clingan draws the foul) | |||
8:17 | +2 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker makes two point driving layup (Jaden McDaniels assists) | 56-52 | |
8:27 | Toumani Camara turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
8:45 | +1 | Jaden McDaniels makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 54-52 | |
8:45 | Timberwolves offensive rebound | |||
8:45 | Jaden McDaniels misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
8:45 | Shaedon Sharpe shooting foul (Jaden McDaniels draws the foul) | |||
8:48 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker defensive rebound | |||
8:49 | Scoot Henderson misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | |||
9:04 | Jerami Grant defensive rebound | |||
9:09 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker misses three point running jump shot | |||
9:13 | Shaedon Sharpe turnover (lost ball) (Jaden McDaniels steals) | |||
9:16 | Donovan Clingan defensive rebound | |||
9:18 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
9:38 | +2 | Shaedon Sharpe makes two point stepback jump shot | 53-52 | |
9:44 | Shaedon Sharpe defensive rebound | |||
9:46 | Rudy Gobert misses two point alley-oop dunk | |||
9:52 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker defensive rebound | |||
9:54 | Jerami Grant misses two point turnaround hook shot | |||
10:09 | +3 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker makes three point jump shot (Julius Randle assists) | 53-50 | |
10:20 | Shaedon Sharpe personal foul (Nickeil Alexander-Walker draws the foul) | |||
10:28 | +2 | Donovan Clingan makes two point cutting dunk (Jerami Grant assists) | 50-50 | |
10:42 | Donovan Clingan defensive rebound | |||
10:45 | Anthony Edwards misses three point jump shot | |||
11:04 | Jerami Grant turnover (offensive foul) | |||
11:04 | Jerami Grant offensive foul (Jaden McDaniels draws the foul) | |||
11:09 | +2 | Rudy Gobert makes two point tip dunk | 50-48 | |
11:09 | Rudy Gobert offensive rebound | |||
11:14 | Jaden McDaniels misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
11:33 | Julius Randle defensive rebound | |||
11:36 | Scoot Henderson misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
11:41 | Donovan Clingan offensive rebound | |||
11:43 | Jerami Grant misses two point driving floating jump shot |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
0:00 | End of period | |||
0:00 | Timberwolves offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | Anthony Edwards misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
0:17 | +2 | Scoot Henderson makes two point stepback jump shot | 48-48 | |
0:36 | +2 | Donte DiVincenzo makes two point driving layup (Anthony Edwards assists) | 48-46 | |
0:46 | Jaden McDaniels defensive rebound | |||
0:50 | Jerami Grant misses three point jump shot | |||
0:56 | Donovan Clingan defensive rebound | |||
0:57 | Anthony Edwards misses two point driving reverse layup | |||
1:17 | Scoot Henderson turnover (bad pass) (Jaden McDaniels steals) | |||
1:32 | Shaedon Sharpe defensive rebound | |||
1:37 | Julius Randle misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
1:37 | +1 | Julius Randle makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 46-46 | |
1:37 | Jerami Grant shooting foul (Julius Randle draws the foul) | |||
1:48 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker defensive rebound | |||
1:50 | Toumani Camara misses two point running alley-oop dunk | |||
1:55 | Donovan Clingan defensive rebound | |||
1:57 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker misses two point driving layup | |||
2:06 | Jaden McDaniels defensive goaltending violation | |||
2:06 | +2 | Scoot Henderson makes two point driving reverse layup | 45-46 | |
2:11 | Anthony Edwards personal foul (Donovan Clingan draws the foul) | |||
2:24 | +1 | Julius Randle makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 45-44 | |
2:24 | Scoot Henderson shooting foul (Julius Randle draws the foul) | |||
2:24 | +2 | Julius Randle makes two point driving floating jump shot | 44-44 | |
2:38 | +2 | Toumani Camara makes two point putback layup | 42-44 | |
2:38 | Toumani Camara offensive rebound | |||
2:43 | Kris Murray misses two point running layup | |||
2:47 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker turnover (lost ball) (Scoot Henderson steals) | |||
2:52 | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | |||
2:55 | Shaedon Sharpe misses three point jump shot | |||
3:14 | Anthony Edwards turnover (bad pass) (Scoot Henderson steals) | |||
3:40 | +2 | Shaedon Sharpe makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 42-42 | |
4:02 | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point driving floating jump shot | 42-40 | |
4:08 | Deni Avdija turnover (bad pass) (Anthony Edwards steals) | |||
4:12 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker turnover (bad pass) (Deni Avdija steals) | |||
4:22 | Toumani Camara turnover (bad pass) (Nickeil Alexander-Walker steals) | |||
4:24 | Anthony Edwards turnover (bad pass) (Toumani Camara steals) | |||
4:32 | Scoot Henderson personal foul (Nickeil Alexander-Walker draws the foul) | |||
4:40 | +1 | Scoot Henderson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 40-40 | |
4:40 | +1 | Scoot Henderson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 40-39 | |
4:40 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker shooting foul (Scoot Henderson draws the foul) | |||
4:45 | Julius Randle turnover (lost ball) (Kris Murray steals) | |||
5:04 | Timberwolves 60 second timeout | |||
5:04 | +2 | Toumani Camara makes two point running layup | 40-38 | |
5:08 | Rob Dillingham turnover (bad pass) (Toumani Camara steals) | |||
5:24 | +2 | Shaedon Sharpe makes two point driving floating jump shot | 40-36 | |
5:39 | Toumani Camara defensive rebound | |||
5:42 | Jaden McDaniels misses three point jump shot | |||
5:50 | Julius Randle offensive rebound | |||
5:54 | Rob Dillingham misses three point running jump shot | |||
6:02 | Shaedon Sharpe turnover (lost ball) (Jaden McDaniels steals) | |||
6:02 | Toumani Camara defensive rebound | |||
6:06 | Donovan Clingan blocks Julius Randle's two point stepback jump shot | |||
6:17 | Timberwolves defensive rebound | |||
6:18 | Scoot Henderson misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
6:29 | Toumani Camara defensive rebound | |||
6:30 | Anthony Edwards misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
6:49 | +2 | Kris Murray makes two point tip layup | 40-34 | |
6:49 | Kris Murray offensive rebound | |||
6:54 | Shaedon Sharpe misses three point jump shot | |||
6:56 | Donovan Clingan offensive rebound | |||
6:59 | Scoot Henderson misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
7:23 | +2 | Julius Randle makes two point stepback jump shot | 40-32 | |
7:39 | Julius Randle defensive rebound | |||
7:41 | Donovan Clingan misses two point cutting layup | |||
7:50 | Donovan Clingan defensive rebound | |||
7:53 | Naz Reid misses three point jump shot | |||
8:09 | +2 | Scoot Henderson makes two point driving floating jump shot | 38-32 | |
8:16 | Trail Blazers 60 second timeout | |||
8:17 | +3 | Rob Dillingham makes three point jump shot (Naz Reid assists) | 38-30 | |
8:31 | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | |||
8:34 | Toumani Camara misses three point running jump shot | |||
8:38 | Rob Dillingham turnover (bad pass) (Jerami Grant steals) | |||
8:53 | +1 | Donovan Clingan makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 35-30 | |
8:53 | Rudy Gobert shooting foul (Donovan Clingan draws the foul) | |||
8:53 | +2 | Donovan Clingan makes two point cutting layup (Scoot Henderson assists) | 35-29 | |
9:12 | +2 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker makes two point running pullup jump shot (Donte DiVincenzo assists) | 35-27 | |
9:17 | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | |||
9:20 | Dalano Banton misses two point floating jump shot | |||
9:28 | Dalano Banton defensive rebound | |||
9:31 | Donte DiVincenzo misses three point jump shot | |||
9:55 | +2 | Dalano Banton makes two point driving finger roll layup | 33-27 | |
10:01 | Dalano Banton defensive rebound | |||
10:03 | Rudy Gobert misses two point floating jump shot | |||
10:11 | Naz Reid defensive rebound | |||
10:14 | Scoot Henderson misses two point turnaround hook shot | |||
10:21 | Scoot Henderson defensive rebound |