PORTLAND, Ore. — Guards CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard each scored 21 points as the Portland Trail Blazers held off a late rally the Minnesota Timberwolves to post a 96-93 victory Sunday night at the Moda Center.
Lillard also dished out eight assists for the Trail Blazers (23-26), who won for the eighth time in 10 outings. Forward Meyers Leonard came off the bench for 13 points for Portland.
Center Karl-Anthony Towns collected 21 points and 13 rebounds for the Timberwolves (14-35), who lost their fourth straight and for the 15th time in 17 contests. Guard Andrew Wiggins contributed 15 points and nine rebounds and guard Ricky Rubio had 15 points and nine assists for Minnesota.
Lillard had 10 points and five assists to stake Portland to a 48-39 lead at halftime. Towns scored 10 points with six rebounds in the half.
Minnesota scored the first six points of the third quarter to close to within 48-45. The Timberwolves took the lead at 57-56 on a hook shot by forward Gorgui Dieng, but Leonard answered with a 3 to push the Blazers back ahead 59-57. Guard Zach Levine’s three-point play gave the Timberwolves a 65-61 advantage, and they went into the fourth quarter with a 65-63 edge.
Portland led 76-74 when Leonard keyed an 8-0 run for an 84-74 lead with five minutes left. The Timberwolves cut it to 92-87 on Rubio’s jumper with 44.4 seconds left.
Rubio then knocked down a 3 with 13.0 seconds to trim the difference to 92-90, but McCollum sank a pair of foul shots with 10.8 seconds on the clock for a 94-90 lead. Lillard closed things out with two more at the line with 5.2 ticks left. Minnesota forward Tayshaun Prince hit a meaningless 3 at the final buzzer.
Minnesota jumped to a 7-0 lead in the game’s first two minutes. The Timberwolves extended it to 21-13 before the Blazers closed on an 8-0 roll to tie it at 21-21 after one quarter. Lillard’s 3-pointer just before time expired gave Portland a nine-point advantage at the half.
NOTES: Minnesota was without G Kevin Martin (wrist) and F Kevin Garnett (knee). … Portland entered the game having won seven straight at home against the Timberwolves. … Portland coach Terry Stotts said the way the Blazers played through the past nine games was equal to the results. “It’s good to win games, but it’s how we’re playing that’s just as important,” Stotts said. “The test for us is being consistent.” … Stotts saw Minnesota C Karl-Anthony Towns play twice at the annual Nike Hoop Summit as a high schooler. “He was such a young kid,” Stotts said. “I wouldn’t have predicted at that time he’d have gone on to do the things he is doing. He is a terrific player. He has filled out, he has matured physically, and he is probably the lead candidate for Rookie of the Year.”