MINNEAPOLIS—Much has changed since the last time the Portland Trail Blazers visited Target Center nearly a month ago.
On Sunday night, Jan. 14, a 120-103 blowout in the rematch gave the Minnesota Timberwolves 12 wins in their past 15 games, including that comeback win from a 10-point hole in the final seven minutes against Portland on Dec. 18. Yet there was no cosmic click that took place that night, coach Tom Thibodeau insisted, even as the laughers have piled up for his first-place team.