The Portland Trail Blazers finally ran out of gas in the fourth quarter on Saturday night, falling to Karl-Anthony Towns and the Minnesota Timberwolves 135-121. Don't mistake another double-digit loss, Portland's fourth straight, for any of its more lopsided predecessors, though.

Not only did the Blazers put up a hard road fight against a quality opponent, but they did so despite being more depleted than ever. With Josh Hart resting and Greg Brown III and Elijah Hughes sidelined by illness, Portland dressed only eight players on Saturday night—three of whom made their team debuts less than 10 days ago.

“We fought extremely hard in the game,” Chauncey Billups said afterward. “I was proud of every single player that played.”

Anfernee Simons was the only player who suited up for the Blazers guaranteed a spot in next season's rotation. You wouldn't have known it with what he did to Minnesota's defense.

Simons lifted his largely anonymous team to a chippy, highly competitive game regardless, pouring in 38 points—the second-biggest scoring output of his career—while shooting 9-of-17 from three-point range. Though credited with just three assists, Simons' ability to bang pull-up threes and turn the corner in ball-screen action warped the Wolves' defense, generating ample time and space for his teammates to take advantage behind the initial point of attack.

Brandon Williams exploited that dynamic most, roasting the Timberwolves off the dribble en route to a career-high 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting. Rookie Keon Johnson looked more poised than ever, scoring 15 points including three triples and a swooping, highlight-reel finish in the halfcourt that showed off his rare explosiveness. Trendon Watford did it all again for Portland, finishing with his first double-double while serving as a dynamic offensive initiator in the halfcourt and open floor.

The Blazers, basically, played well enough to win on Saturday. Save the all-encompassing impact of Towns, who had an answer for every different look Portland threw at him defensively, Billups' ragtag group of eight could very well have left Target Center with a longshot win.

Good thing for Simons and company that moral victories exist in the NBA, especially under the Blazers' extremely unenviable circumstances.

“I'm pretty sure everybody in the locker room feels good about what happened other than that you lost the game. We played against a team that's just better than us right now, that's more healthy than us right now. I'm pretty sure they're all proud with their effort; I know we are as a staff,” Billups said. “I can live with that. We play the right way, we play for each other, way move the basketball, we help each other on defense, I can live with the results. It's safe to say they feel the same way.”

We'll find out Monday, come the back half of Portland's two-game set in Minnesota, whether that silver lining helps spark an even better result.