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A devoted fan should be able to fully understand the concept of loyalty. They should never turn their back on their team. No matter how said team plays, that fandom should never waver. Of course, staying true to a losing team can be heartbreaking sometimes. But, when the odds are stacked against your favorite team and they defy them, the elation one feels is much more satisfying than anyone who roots for a championship team.

In the pre-season Trail Blazer fans, players, and organization members were using hashtags like “Emerging,” and “ TrustTheProcess.” Since more than half of the starting line-up was purged at the end of last season, the general feeling was that the team was looking at a rebuilding season, and fans should not lose faith in their team. Logically, it would probably be a few years before the Blazers made a play-off appearance.

Come the last two games of the 2015-16 regular season, and now everyone is using the hashtag “They.” As in, “They” said we weren’t gonna amount to anything this season, and now look where we are. Currently, having clinched a play-off spot, the Blazers are looking to do battle with a yet undetermined opponent in the post-season.

“They”
were wrong.

Last night’s match-up against the Minnesota Timberwolves served to be an inconsequential one for the away team. They’re not in our conference, they’re not in play-off contention in theirs, and a loss would probably help them secure a better draft pick. For the Blazers, a win would’ve helped concrete their fifth seed play-off position. Prior to the start of the game, the Memphis Grizzles, who the Blazers are in major contention with for that fifth slot, dropped a game to Golden State. A win for the Blazers last night would most likely cast their play-off position in iron. Since the Blazers had already put the T-Wolves away three times this season, and eight consecutive times at the Moda Center, an authoritative win was most likely in the cards for the home team.

In the end, previous stats didn't mean a thing. The Timberwolves toppled the Trail Blazers 106-105.

For the first two minutes both teams were doing nothing but clanging iron. Nobody could sink a field goal. The first points scored by anyone in the game were made by CJ McCollum at the foul line. The T-Wolves rung up the first field goal of the game almost four minutes into the contest. The game was shopping up to be a snoozer.

Finally at the four minute mark it was the Blazers whose offense started to find a rhythm. Damian Lillard was able to charge the paint for a few lay-ups, and CJ drained a nice jumper and three point shot. Meanwhile, the T-Wolves shooting percentage was at an ice-cold 35%, and they were losing the ball so much you’d think it was invisible.

Unfortunately that trend for the T-Wolves didn’t last long. At the seven and a half minute mark in the second, the T-Wolves had somehow tied the game at 34. From there the Blazers started to lose it. At the half they had shot 44% and turned the ball over eight times. They were down four going into the locker room.

Despite having some great looks at threes to start the half, Dame was coming up with nothing. The T-Wolves were completely in control through the third, and leading by three going into the final quarter.

Blazers came out shooting well, but the T-Wolves had an answer for everything. On the defensive side, the Blazers looked like air traffic control. They were just waving the T-Wolves into the paint for uncontested dunks and lay-ups. Things were looking bleak.

But, of course, leave it to the Blazers to wait until the last two minutes before deciding they should try to win the game. They got the T-Wolves lead down to three and were inbounding the ball at half court with 40 seconds to go. The game still seemed salvageable. That is, if you don’t get a damn five second violation on the inbound and turn the ball over. Fuck.

Lucky for the Blazers, directly after their badly timed turn-over, T-Wolves Andrew Wiggins decided to give Al-Farouq Aminu a bit too much contact backing him up, and was called for an offensive foul. Blazers got the ball back. With just under 30 seconds left Dame rings up a quick two. Down by one. The Moda center was on it’s feet blowing the roof off the joint.

The Blazers quickly fouled the T-Wolves on the inbound, and they promptly drained their free throws. The Blazers had the ball back and were down by three with under 15 seconds left. Seemed like the clock was preparing to strike Dame Time. The crowd was still standing and roaring like maniacs.

The inbound goes to CJ with just over ten seconds left, he quickly shuffles the ball to Dame, who then drained a huge three, got fouled, and sunk his and one. The crowd was certified insane, and somehow the Blazers looked like they were gonna pull off another miracle.

Not the case. With just over three seconds left, Tayshaun Prince floated a pass into Karl-Anthony Towns in the paint who turned past Aminu and popped the ball in for the win.

Since the Blazers and the Grizzles both lost last night, nothing shifted in the play-off standings, and the Blazers retained their fifth slot. But, if they wanna keep it, they better lock down Denver on Wednesday, and pray that the Grizzles slip up in their last two games.