Robert Williams III, Blazers looking for repeat performance against Wolves

Portland big man Robert Williams III recently returned from a 12-month absence with a knee injury.

He is quickly showing why the Trail Blazers missed him so much last season.

Williams dominated the first back-to-back contest with the Minnesota Timberwolves and will look to repeat his performance when the teams meet again Wednesday night in Portland.

Tuesday’s 122-108 win over Minnesota marked Williams’ third start 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 blessed to be out here playing this game,” Williams said afterward. “There is always light at the end of the tunnel.”

Williams played in just six games in Portland last season in his first campaign with the team before suffering a season-ending injury. His absence left a big hole up front, and the team’s defense was often a problem.

“You’ve heard me since he’s been here, I’ve been talking about how excited I am to be able to coach him,” Trail Blazers’ Chauncey Billups said after Tuesday’s game. “He’s just a winner. He does everything he needs to do.

“His feel for the game is top-notch, his IQ is really top-notch. His rebounding, his blocked shot, his voice, it’s very impactful.”

Williams was one of seven Portland players to score in double digits on Tuesday in the NBA Cup semifinals. Both teams are in Group A.

Portland’s Jerami Grant scored a team-leading 21 points while Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avdija each added 17. Toumani Camara and Scoot Henderson had 14 points each and Dalano Banton had 12.

Deandre Ayton (sprained finger) missed the contest, while Anfernee Simons played just five minutes due to chest pains. Billups said Simons’ tests came back normal, but added that Simons will “continue to be tested” on Wednesday.

“He was having a little trouble breathing,” Billups said. “We wanted to be very careful.”

Tuesday’s performance was very different for Portland. Last Friday, the Timberwolves defeated the Trail Blazers 127-102 in Minneapolis.

Anthony Edwards hit 9 3-pointers and had 37 points in that contest, while 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 led Minnesota in scoring with 28 points on Tuesday.

What has hurt the Timberwolves is not being able to take care of the ball. Minnesota committed a season-worst 23 turnovers that led to 25 points in Portland.

“It was just sloppy, careless,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “Very manageable.”

Four different players made four mistakes. It marked the third straight game and fourth time overall that the Timberwolves had at least 20 turnovers in a game this season.

“I think we have to get into more planning,” Finch said about how problems can be reduced. “The boys are trying to make a high-risk play instead of an easy play.”

Finch said some of the turnovers were due to players trying to force the ball into Rudy Gobert. The big man took just three guns, made two.

While Reid and Edwards combined for half of Minnesota’s points, Jaden McDaniels scored 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field.

The Timberwolves had beaten Portland five times in a row before Tuesday’s loss.

–Field Level Media