Blazers stay alive in Summer League tournament with 82-77 win over Timberwolves

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The Portland Trail Blazers took on the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the “tournament” stage of the 2015 Las Vegas Summer League. And the Blazers left the floor at the Thomas & Mack center victorious with a 82-77 win, with Noah Vonleh leading the way again with a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds. The Timberwolves were missing a few players, including Zach LaVine and Tyus Jones, both of whom were excused to attend the ESPY awards. And the Blazers roster players took full advantage of the Wolves depleted summer league team in the early going. The Blazers were well in control of the game in the first half. But the air was sucked out of the game when Blazers swingman Allen Crabbe went down with a lower left leg injury. The Blazers are calling Crabbe’s injury a left ankle sprain. X-rays on the leg/ankle were negative but he still has to get an MRI. The game went on, with Crabbe being out for the rest of the game. Throughout the week Crabbe had been their most reliable perimeter scorer in Vegas and points were a little bit harder to come by in the second half. But for the most part, the Timberwolves were just terrible. The Blazers were just less terrible enough to win the game. Karl Anthony Towns was killing on the inside, but all of Minnesota perimeter players played like hot garbage. Noah Vonleh held his own against Towns as they were matched up against each other for most of the evening. Towns finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Other game notes

• The Blazers play the Celtics at 7:30 PM tomorrow night.
• The Blazers introduced Moe Harkless to the media during halftime of the game and he expressed his excitement about coming to Portland and having a fresh start.
• The Blazers finally gave extended minutes to Arnett Moultrie, giving him the start instead of Daniel Orton who had been the starting center for most of the week. Malcolm Thomas, Moultrie and Vonleh got all of the minutes at the four and five spots.
• Tim Frazier hit two 3-pointers! It may be the desert but it wasn’t a mirage. He only took three on the night but it was without a doubt his best perimeter shooting game of Summer League. Frazier had 14 points, six assists and three rebounds.
• Malcolm Thomas had another good and efficient game coming off the bench. He scored 15 points on 5-6 shooting and grabbed 4 rebounds. His little right handed baby hook as the makings of a go-to move.
• Luis Montero was the most aggressive he has been in summer league so far. It was probably aided by the fact that the Blazers lacked Crabbe’s scoring on the court. He wasn’t efficient, going 1-for-7 from the field. But he had three assists and continues to show a great feel for the game, especially with the ball in his hands.