The injury-prone Timberwolves came up short against the Trail Blazers at Target Center Saturday night, 105-97.
Earlier in the day the team announced that Kevin Love had re-fractured his right hand and would be out of the lineup.
The team was already without Ricky Rubio, who missed the team’s road trip after suffering from back spasms last weekend.
The Blazers led the Wolves 23-21 after the first quarter, and out-scored the Wolves again in the second for a 53-43 lead at halftime.
Down 79-61 after the third quarter, the Wolves stormed back in the fourth outscoring the Blazers 36-23. The Wolves pulled within two to narrow the Blazers lead 96-94 with 1:19 left — but Portland pulled away in the final minutes for the five-point victory.
Nikola Pekovic led the Wolves with 21 point and 15 rebounds, while Derrick Williams scored 18 and pulled down five rebounds.
Nicolas Batum and Wesley Matthews each scored 26 for the Blazers.
The Wolves return to Target Center Tuesday to take on the Atlanta Hawks.
