The Target Center in Minneapolis was buzzing with anticipation on February 11, 2026, as the Portland Trail Blazers (26-28) rolled into town to face the Minnesota Timberwolves (33-22) in a Western Conference showdown. With both teams eyeing the postseason and the Play-In Tournament looming on the horizon, this wasn’t just another midseason contest—it was a potential playoff preview that had fans and analysts alike glued to their screens.
For the Timberwolves, this game marked the final hurdle before the All-Star break, and they came in riding high, having won six of their previous nine outings. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota’s dynamic guard, had been on a tear, racking up 30 or more points in five of his last six games. However, his status for this matchup was up in the air due to a lingering illness, leaving Timberwolves fans holding their breath right up until tipoff. According to the official NBA injury report, Edwards was listed as questionable, injecting an extra dose of unpredictability into the evening.
Portland, meanwhile, was enjoying a resurgence of its own. After enduring a frustrating six-game losing streak, the Trail Blazers rattled off three straight wins, including a commanding 135-118 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers just two nights earlier. The return of All-Star forward Deni Avdija from injury couldn’t have come at a better time—his brilliant performance on Monday helped steady the ship, and his presence was expected to be a major factor against Minnesota. The Blazers also welcomed back key guards Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson, both of whom had missed significant time earlier in the season but were now back at full strength.
Injuries, as always, played a part in shaping the narrative. Portland was without shooting guard Shaedon Sharpe, who remained sidelined with a calf strain, and they also missed the services of Matisse Thybulle (knee), Kris Murray (back), and franchise cornerstone Damian Lillard, who was out for the season with an Achilles injury. The Timberwolves, on the other hand, were relatively healthy aside from Anthony Edwards’ illness and Terrence Shannon Jr., who was out with a foot injury and on G League assignment.
Oddsmakers pegged Minnesota as the favorite, with the Timberwolves listed at -5.5 on the spread (and as much as -7.5 at some sportsbooks) and a moneyline hovering around -230 to -275. Portland was a +190 to +220 underdog, but recent form and the uncertainty surrounding Edwards gave some bettors pause. The over/under for total points was set in the 233.5 to 238.5 range, reflecting both teams’ offensive capabilities and the defensive improvements Portland had shown over the last 15 games, climbing to 16th overall in defensive rating during that span.
Statistically, the Timberwolves held the edge in several key areas. Minnesota ranked in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive rating, a rare feat shared by only a handful of teams league-wide. They also boasted the fourth-best three-point shooting percentage, a weapon that often tipped the scales in their favor. Portland, in contrast, ranked second-to-last in three-point accuracy, even though they generated the third-most wide-open attempts per game. The arrival of Vít Krejčí, a 42.3% shooter from deep during his time with Atlanta, offered some hope that the Blazers could close that gap, but the Timberwolves’ perimeter prowess remained a significant advantage.
On the glass, the teams were evenly matched. Portland held the fifth-best total rebounding percentage and led the league in second-chance points per game, while Minnesota wasn’t far behind, ranking ninth in rebounding. Both teams liked to attack the paint, but Minnesota’s rim protection and ability to limit opponents inside the restricted area—fifth-lowest field goal percentage allowed—posed a stiff challenge for the Blazers’ interior scorers.
Turnovers, though, continued to haunt Portland. Even with Holiday’s veteran presence, the Blazers remained the league’s most turnover-prone squad, and Minnesota had shown a knack for capitalizing on opponents’ mistakes. However, the Timberwolves’ aggressive defensive style sometimes led to foul trouble, giving Portland an opportunity to make up ground at the free-throw line—if they could draw enough contact, which had not been their strong suit outside of Avdija.
Trade deadline moves added more intrigue. Minnesota’s acquisition of Ayo Dosunmu, who averaged 16.0 points in his first two games with the Wolves, gave them an extra scoring punch alongside Edwards, Julius Randle, and Rudy Gobert. The Timberwolves reportedly inquired about Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo but ultimately settled on Dosunmu, whose defensive limitations compared to Mike Conley created some vulnerability on the perimeter. For Portland, the return of healthy guards and the addition of Krejčí provided a much-needed boost to their rotation depth.
The season series tilted in Minnesota’s favor coming in, with the Wolves having edged Portland 118-114 in their October 22 meeting as five-point road favorites. Both teams had covered spreads inconsistently in recent games: Minnesota failed to cover in four of its last five, while Portland had covered in two of its last three. Betting experts were split, with some seeing a golden opportunity for the Blazers to pull off an upset—especially if Edwards was limited or unable to go. As one analyst put it, “The elephant in the room is whether or not Edwards plays. If he doesn’t, the Trail Blazers should be able to take advantage and pull out a win. Even if Edwards does play, he could be limited. Portland has momentum, winning their last 3 games.”
Fans following from home had multiple ways to tune in, with TV coverage on KUNP and FDSN, streaming available via BlazerVision in Oregon and Washington, and League Pass elsewhere. Those lucky enough to snag tickets on StubHub got to witness the playoff-like atmosphere firsthand.
As tipoff approached, the question on everyone’s mind was whether Minnesota’s home-court advantage—worth a net swing of 7.4 points per 100 possessions—would be enough to hold off a surging Portland squad. The Timberwolves’ superior shooting and defensive balance gave them the edge on paper, but the Blazers’ renewed health, recent form, and ability to generate open looks meant this was far from a foregone conclusion.
With the Western Conference playoff race tightening, each possession felt heavier, each missed shot more costly. As the action unfolded in Minneapolis, one thing was clear: both teams were treating this February matchup with the urgency and intensity of a postseason clash. Whether it ends up being a Play-In Tournament preview or just another chapter in a heated rivalry, fans won’t soon forget the night the Blazers and Timberwolves battled for position in the West.