7 p.m. vs. Portland • FSN, 8:30-AM

Preview: The Timberwolves are back home after splitting a four-game road trip — winning at Sacramento and Utah and losing at San Antonio and Houston. They will stay home for three games, but they won't be easy: vs. Portland, Golden State and the Los Angeles Clippers. The Wolves are still three games out of the eighth spot in the Western Conference, and the Blazers (ninth) are one of the teams ahead of them. This is the second of four meetings between the two teams; Portland won 95-89 at Target Center on Nov. 20. Portland has won four of the past five games between the teams and is 13-4 vs. Minnesota under coach Terry Stotts.

Players to watch: PG Ricky Rubio is coming off his fifth career triple-double in Saturday's loss in San Antonio. C Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 27.9 points and 13.1 rebounds in his past 25 games. Reserve F Nemanja Bjelica has scored in double figures in four straight games with two double-doubles. Blazers G C.J. McCollum had 43 points vs. the Wolves in the Blazers' Nov. 20 victory. G Damian Lillard has averaged 29.4 points in his past five games.

Injuries: Wolves F Adreian Payne (illness) is out. Blazers G Allen Crabbe (left leg) is probable. G Evan Turner (right hand), C Ed Davis (left shoulder) and C Festus Ezell (left knee) are out.

Kent Youngblood