It was a battle of Western forces on Saturday night as the Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves met for a showdown at Target Center. While many spots separate these teams in the standings, they looked pretty evenly matched tonight as they clashed in arguably the best game of the night.
Both teams were flexing on each other all night long, trading play after play to try and take control of the game. Of course, neither team was able to gain any significant traction and the score was close up to the final few minutes of the game. Right when it looked like the Timberwolves were about to secure the win, the Grizzlies responded with a massive run that gave them the comeback win (127-125).
Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies in scoring with 33 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 assist on 13-24 shooting. Desmond Bane dropped 21 points to go along with 5 rebounds and 5 assists in 32 minutes. Franchise star Ja Morant totaled 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists on 5-19 shooting.
For the Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards was held to 15 points in 39 minutes but others did step up to provide a boost offensively. Donte DiVincenzo was the highest scorer with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists on 9-14 shooting. Jaden McDaniels had one of his best performances of the season with 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals on 3-4 shooting from three. Off the bench, NBA veteran Naz Reid dropped 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists on 7-10 shooting.
It was a crucial game for both teams coming in and a chance for them to show how they stack up against a powerful opponent. Not only did the Timberwolves suffer an epic collapse down the stretch, but they were unable to recover and it sealed their fate down the stretch.
Ja Morant Clutch Play
For most of the game, Grizzlies star Ja Morant was a liability to the team as he struggled to generate any kind of momentum offensively. But despite his struggles, he came alive in the final minutes to carry the Grizzlies to the win.
In the final minute, Morant made two shots that sealed the game. The first was a smooth glide to the rim that earned a quick two points. The next was a floater that went right over Anthony Edwards’ head to give the Grizzlies a two-point lead with 18.6 seconds remaining.
Despite his poor shooting for most of the game, Ja never wavered in confidence and he didn’t hesitate to take over when he saw an opportunity to win the game. That’s the mentality of a true NBA superstar and made a major difference for the Grizzlies at the end of a hard-fought battle. In 30 minutes, Ja finished with 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists on 5-19 shooting.
Lockdown Defense On Anthony Edwards
Historically, the Grizzlies have been home to some all-time great defensive teams. This season, that trend is holding as the Grizzlies rank 4th in the NBA on defense at 109.0. The game tonight was the latest showing of elite defensive play, especially in the backcourt where Jaylen Wells had Anthony Edwards completely off his game.
In 39 minutes on the court, Edwards was -5 with 15 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds on 4-13 shooting. Edwards went 0-5 from three and finished with 3 fouls and a team-high six turnovers. He was neutralized out of the game and it effectively shut down the Timberwolves’ offense.
If the Grizzlies can continue this dominant defensive display it will make them a tough matchup against any team this season. With Jaren Jackson Jr. and Marcus Smart, they already have the foundations of a historically great defense and if they can get the others to play up to that standard it’ll make them virtually unbeatable in the West.
Offensive Rebounding Masterpiece
It’s tough to win when your best player isn’t hitting shots but the Grizzlies managed to stay in the game thanks to an impressive rebounding performance. Tonight, they finished with 46 boards compared to the Timberwolves’ 41.
More importantly, the Grizzlies secured 21 offensive rebounds, providing second-chance opportunities at key moments for their teammates. Specifically, it was Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey who stocked up on the offensive rebounds with 7 and 4, respectively.
Between their stifling defense and clutch play from their stars, the Grizzlies were already in a good position to win the game. But their rebounding allowed them to cover for some of their mistakes and close the gap on what would have otherwise been an insurmountable lead.
With all eyes in Minnesota tonight, fans were eager to see which team would rise to the occasion and prove itself as one of the best in the West. Considering where they stand right now, and how they’ve looked all season, it’s no surprise that the Grizzlies managed to win this matchup to secure their 24th victory of the season.
Now, the Grizzlies will look ahead to their next game against the Houston Rockets on January 13th at Toyota Center at 8:00 PM EST. Next, the Grizzlies will play the Spurs at Frost Bank Center on January 15th and January 17th in a back-to-back set.
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