The Minnesota Timberwolves suffered another blow to their playoff hopes on Sunday afternoon as they suffered the worst loss against the spread in 28 years during a 107-105 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.
According to Underdog Fantasy’s Rob Perez, the Timberwolves were 19.5-point favorites coming into Sunday’s game, which is the worst loss against the spread since 1995.
The 19.5-point favorite Minnesota Timberwolves have just suffered the worst recorded NBA ATS defeat since 1995, a catastrophic loss which has dropped them 2 losses behind 8 seed in West with 3 games to play. A scenario which could doom them to the sudden death play-in bracket.
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) April 2, 2023
In addition to the embarrassment, the Timberwolves also came into Sunday’s game sitting in the ninth spot in the Western Conference standings and two games behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the sixth seed and an automatic play-in spot.
With four games remaining, a matchup against a Portland team that was without Damian Lillard and had its eyes set on the future was an opportunity to gain ground in the standings and a must-win if they wanted to stay out of the play-in tournament.
The Timberwolves took a 62-56 lead at halftime and expanded the lead to as many as 12 points in the third quarter thanks to a 37-point effort from Anthony Edwards.
A1'S COOKIN' 😛 pic.twitter.com/DykrbMu7OH
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) April 2, 2023
A 10-4 run to close the third quarter had the Trail Blazers cut the Wolves’ lead down to 86-82 heading into the fourth quarter and Jonathan Williams’ 3-pointer gave Portland an 89-88 lead with 8:21 to play.
The Blazers held onto the lead until a pair of free throws from Edwards put the Wolves up 100-98 with 2:22 to go but buckets from Shaydon Sharpe and Skylar Mays put the Blazers on top with 1:29 left.
Portland stayed on top until the final moments where Kyle Anderson’s runner went off the top of the backboard and the Trail Blazers were able to run out the clock to deal a crucial blow to the Wolves’ playoff hopes.
At 39-40, Minnesota is now two games back of the Clippers and two losses behind the New Orleans Pelicans for the seventh spot in the Western Conference, which includes a home game in the first round of the play-in tournament.
The Timberwolves will try to recover on Tuesday when they travel to take on the Brooklyn Nets.
