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By Anne Erickson
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The Portland Trail Blazers finally found their summer groove Monday night, and they did it with the kind of performance that leaves very little room for debate.
From the opening tip to the final buzzer, Portland controlled everything, rolling past the Minnesota Timberwolves 111-84 at Thomas & Mack Center.
This wasn't a game that got away late. The Trail Blazers handled business from start to finish, winning every quarter by at least five points and never allowing Minnesota to build any real momentum. By the end of the third quarter, Portland had stretched the lead to 22 points, and the rest of the night was mostly about keeping it going.
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The numbers told the story. Portland shot 52% from the field and moved the ball well enough to keep Minnesota in trouble. The Timberwolves finished at 40% shooting and struggled badly from beyond the arc, connecting on just 21% of their attempts. The Blazers weren't exactly lighting it up for 3s either at 31%, but they didn't need to. They were simply sharper.
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The Blazers turned Minnesota's mistakes into easy points, winning the turnover battle scoring 18-1 in that category. They also pushed the pace and held a 17-6 advantage in fastbreak points.
Chris Youngblood led the way with 20 points, five rebounds and three assists, while Yang Hansen provided one of the night's biggest highlights with an impressive all-around showing. Hansen finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, giving Blazers fans plenty to talk about after the game was long over.
Quincy Olivari had 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals, while Jaylen Martin came off the bench for 14 points, three rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Minnesota had some bright spots despite the rough night. Donovan Williams clocked 21 points, two rebounds and two assists. Zyon Pullin nearly posted a triple-double with 16 points, four rebounds and 10 assists, while Rocco Zikarsky chipped in 18 points and six rebounds.
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The win moves Portland to 1-2 in Summer League play, while Minnesota drops to 1-2. The Timberwolves will look to bounce back Wednesday against the Indiana Pacers, while the Trail Blazers continue their run Thursday against the Denver Nuggets.
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