Preview: All the teams the Timberwolves played last week on the road, they now play at home this week. This time, it's the Trail Blazers, the team they beat Saturday. The 122-110 victory ended a 16-game losing streak to the Blazers and was the Wolves' first victory at the Rose Garden since December 2005. Portland still has won 20 of the past 23 games between the teams. ... The Blazers beat New Orleans 86-74 at home Monday night to get back to .500 (19-19) after falling below it with Saturday's loss to the Wolves. This game begins a seven-game trip through the Midwest and East that could define their season. ... The Wolves have won four consecutive home games and six of eight and now are 11-10 at Target Center.

Players to watch: Wolves All-Star forward Kevin Love finally outplayed Blazers All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge on Saturday, delivering 42 points and 10 rebounds compared with Aldridge's 14 points and seven rebounds. Aldridge followed that with 10 points and 11 rebounds vs. the Hornets after he had averaged 19.6 points in his previous five games. ... Portland moved point guard Raymond Felton back into the starting lineup Monday, and moved shooting guard Jamal Crawford from the starting point guard spot back to a reserve role. Keep your eye on Crawford as the Wolves work to acquire a shooting guard by the March 15 trade deadline. ... Blazers F Nicolas Batum -- a restricted free agent this summer who would look fabulous in a Wolves uniform if they could find a way to obtain him -- scored 29 Saturday and has 17 or more points in nine of his past 10 games. He's third on the team in scoring (14.4) and first in three-point percentage (41.7).

Injuries: Wolves C Nikola Pekovic participated in Tuesday's practice, but it was short and light. He will be re-evaluated Wednesday to see if a sore foot that caused him to miss Monday's game against the Clippers is good enough for him to play. Blazers center Greg Oden (knee) again is out for the season.

JERRY ZGODA