The Minnesota Timberwolves pulled off a gutsy 114-98 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night at Target Center. Despite being down by 15 points at one point and dealing with injuries and exhaustion from playing three games in four nights, they somehow found a way to get the job done.
After the game, Timberwolves Head Coach Chris Finch couldn’t hide his excitement.
“Proud of the guys. One of my favorite wins of the year, no doubt about it,” Chris Finch said. “Everybody played well, came in and fought. Even when we couldn’t score and things weren’t going our way, I loved the team’s spirit.”
The Timberwolves had to battle without some of their top guns, including All-Star guard Anthony Edwards (sore right hip) and veteran Mike Conley (sprained finger), along with Julius Randle (strained groin) and Donte DiVincenzo (sprained toe). On top of that, they couldn’t find their rhythm from either the three-point line or the free-throw line. But even with all that going against them, the Wolves’ young players stepped up.
Jaden McDaniels had the best game of his career, contributing 30 points on 12-for-17 shooting, 10 rebounds, and four assists. Naz Reid added 23 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter. He also nailed three clutch three-pointers that helped swing the momentum.
After falling behind by 15, the Wolves put together a massive 21-7 run late in the game. One of the biggest moments came when Rudy Gobert swatted a shot, leading to a pull-up jumper from McDaniels that gave Minnesota a 91-90 lead with just under seven minutes left. From there, the Wolves dominated, outscoring Portland 38-14 in the final quarter. Their defense was relentless, forcing 10 turnovers in the second half and turning those into 22 points.
Rob Dillingham, making his first-ever start at point guard, had a rough start (just 1-for-6 from the field) but finished with eight points and six assists. Nickeil Alexander-Walker stepped up in place of Edwards, delivering 21 points, six assists, and five rebounds. Meanwhile, Jaylen Clark, recently added to the rotation, chipped in 11 points and came up with an essential steal in the closing minutes, helping Alexander-Walker push the lead to 100-93.
The Trail Blazers came into the game on a hot streak, winning 10 of their last 11 games. Anfernee Simons led them with 21 points, while Jerami Grant and Shaedon Sharpe each added 14. But when the Wolves flipped the switch, Portland had no answer.
With the win, Minnesota improves to 30-23 and will now turn their attention to a difficult matchup against the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday. Meanwhile, the Blazers will head to Denver, looking to bounce back.
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Los Angeles Lakers fans will be eager to see what Luka Doncic has in store this upcoming season. With an emphasis on getting into shape for the new season, Doncic recently showed off the fruits of his labor. In a recent video, the Lakers superstar can be seen looking significantly leaner. And to add emphasis, the 26-year-old drained a shot from halfcourt, causing fans on social media to go berserk. Doncic is widely considered one of the most gifted basketball players in the NBA. Now that he's in what looks like the best shape of his career, fans couldn’t contain their excitement. With several fans sharing their reactions to the video on X, we take a look at some of their responses. "Tell me he isn’t looking similar to his rookie build. He’s lean as hell now!" commented one fan. "My MVP," added another. Another fan displayed some optimism and claimed, "No worries, those earlier years were just for fun. Now, he’s about to enter his prime. S**t about to get ugly for the league." "Luka's MVP season is coming," said one fan, predicting big things from the Lakers' star. Another fan added to this with, "So I’m placing my bet right now for Luka Doncic MVP." "Holy fawk, we are so back. We are winning MVP this season," boldly stated another fan. "Luka Doncic is in the best shape of his life," claimed another. One fan noted the impact this weight loss could have on his game by saying, "Attack-the-rim Luka bout to make a return this season." A Mavericks fan also commented on this marked change and lamented, "Why couldn't he do this in Dallas?" "That's the next GOAT," claimed another fan, acknowledging his potential for greatness. The expectations of Doncic to dominate next season are immense, especially given the criticism he has faced for his defensive shortcomings in the playoffs. The scrutiny the superstar has faced since donning the Purple and Gold has acted as fuel. His response has been a deepened commitment to the team, reflected in his ongoing conditioning and offseason recruiting efforts. Having played a significant role in bringing Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart to the Lakers in free agency, it is abundantly clear that Doncic is invested in the team's future. When also considering that the Lakers are officially on the guard's timeline now, planning their roster construction with upcoming free agency classes in mind, the team and the player appear to be in close collaboration. Doncic is currently gearing up for his activities with the Slovenian national team at the EuroBasket tournament. However, the 26-year-old is expected to return to Los Angeles before joining the national team to sign his contract extension with the Lakers, further cementing his place as the face of the franchise.
On Thursday, wrestling icon Terry "Hulk Hogan" Bollea died at the age of 71. "WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away," the company said in a statement. "One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s... WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans." Hogan was the first true superstar to emerge in the wrestling industry, capturing a casual audience worldwide and bringing new eyes to the sport. He was an unbelievable draw, both as a baby face and as a heel. From his time as an All-American hero to leading the New World Order and teaming with Randy Savage as part of the "Mega Powers," he has been a staple of the scene for decades. Who can forget his WrestleMania III moment, where he defied the laws of physics to body-slam a 520-pound Andre the Giant? Or, more recently, his match with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson at WrestleMania 18? His last appearance on WWE RAW on Jan. 6 saw him booed throughout, highlighting the rocky legacy Hogan leaves behind. Hogan's universal popularity has plummeted in recent years, primarily due to a racism scandal that led to his removal from the Wrestling Hall of Fame, only to be reinstated in 2018. Nevertheless, the damage had been done. Hogan's outdated and unwelcome outlook on specific aspects of life derailed the final stanza of a legendary career. Still, there's no denying that without Hogan, the wrestling we know and love today wouldn't exist. There wouldn't be WWE on the world's largest streaming platform, or All Elite Wrestling, which is developing into one of the most successful challenger brands. Instead, there would be smaller, more localized promotions, all competing for a sliver of television time. Hogan popularized the sport by bridging the gap between the wrestling ring and Hollywood. During his time in the spotlight, Hogan appeared in movies such as "Rocky III," "No Holds Barred" and "Suburban Commando," all of which helped bring his larger-than-life persona to a new audience. It's no surprise, then, that The Rock, John Cena and Dave Bautista have all made similar jumps in recent years. Hogan leaves behind an everlasting imprint on the wrestling world. Unfortunately, it comes with multiple asterisks; however, that doesn't change what he achieved as the first global wrestling star.
Following the shocking news of Hulk Hogan’s passing, wrestling legend Dustin Rhodes, known to millions as Goldust in WWE, took to social media to share a deeply personal and provocative reaction: “Hospitals truly kill people. I really do mean that.” Rhodes’ blunt statement stunned many fans, but those who know his story saw the pain behind the words. His father, the iconic Dusty Rhodes, passed away in 2015, aged 69, after a fall at home led to hospitalization for kidney failure. After his father's passing, Dustin shared a contemplative response on WWE's YouTube channel to discuss the legacy his father left behind. The news of Hogan's death comes just a month after reports suggested he was on his "deathbed" after undergoing a neck procedure back in May. Hogan's reps denied that was the case. In June, US Weekly reported that Hogan had also undergone a "pretty serious heart surgery and was doing well afterward." Dustin’s connection to his brother Cody Rhodes, now a top WWE superstar and face of the company’s next generation, is unbreakable. The Rhodes family legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of pro wrestling history, and seeing another legend like Hogan pass has clearly hit close to home. While Goldust and Hulk Hogan never had a headline-grabbing rivalry, they did share the ring once. It occurred in WCW in 2000 when Dustin Rhodes matched up against Hogan. Although their paths didn’t often cross in the squared circle, Hogan and the Rhodes family were part of the same larger-than-life era that helped define pro wrestling for decades and catapult the sport into society's zeitgeist. Rhodes’ comment about hospitals might not sit well with everyone, but it speaks to a raw and honest pain felt by someone who has seen too many legends, both personal and professional, fade away in similar fashion. The sport of wrestling has endured more than its fair share of lives cut short. As tributes continue to pour in for Hogan, Rhodes’ reaction serves as a powerful, if somber, reminder of the real human emotions behind the wrestling personas.
The Cincinnati Bengals have finally reached an agreement with first-round pick Shemar Stewart, putting an end to what became the story of the offseason for the team. Stewart, drafted 17th overall in this year's draft, has finally agreed to a four-year, fully guaranteed $18.97 million deal that includes a $10.4 million signing bonus, according to his agent Zac Hiller of LAA. Now with this deal done, every first-round pick is signed. The road to this deal was a bumpy ride. For months, negotiations between Stewart’s camp and the Bengals front office stalled due to disagreements over contract language, particularly around guarantees. The team pushed to include contract language that could void the deal under certain off-field circumstances, but since other Bengals first-round picks did not face similar terms, Stewart stood firm and refused to sign. Both sides remained firm throughout the offseason, leading to a long standoff and a lot of reports of frustration from both sides. Despite the frustration and disagreement, the Bengals and Stewart’s group continued to engage in conversations, trying to find a resolution to the issue. And finally, after weeks of back and forth and weeks of controversy surrounding what Stewart may be forced to do, both parties appear to have met in the middle and found common ground. For the Bengals, getting Stewart signed and ready for training camp is a major win. Stewart was viewed as a developmental prospect who needed plenty of on-field reps to reach his full potential. Stewart's absence from earlier camps had slowed a lot of his progress. With the contract dispute resolved, he can now focus entirely on gaining important reps and continuing his development over the coming weeks. Now with this contract done and over with, the team can put their full focus on Trey Hendrickson, who is also seeking a long term deal. If the Bengals can get a deal done with Trey before the season kicks off, they would secure their edge-rushing room for not only 2025, but for years beyond. For a team looking to go all in on making the playoffs, signing Stewart was long overdue. Now it will be vital for the team to get Stewart up to speed with the rest of the roster, and allow him to get as many reps as possible before the 2025 season begins.
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