Games between the Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves tend to have a certain edge. Monday afternoon at FedExForum was no different.
The Grizzlies led by two points with 12.4 seconds left and a chance to put the game away. A missed shot gave the Timberwolves one last opportunity to win.
Anthony Edwards dribbled up the floor and missed a contested 3-pointer at the buzzer. The Grizzlies held on to win 108-106 after a strong fourth quarter.
Jaren Jackson Jr. came alive in the fourth and was dominant, scoring 15 of his 24 points. Desmond Bane added 22 points for the Grizzlies (28-15).
Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves (22-21) with 32 points.
Here are three takeaways from Monday’s matchup, the annual MLK Day game, between the Grizzlies and Wolves.
Memphis goes deep into the rotation
GG Jackson made his season debut for the Grizzlies — good news, with another ultra-talented player to add to their rotation. Now, coach Taylor Jenkins is tasked with figuring out how to best utilize those assets.
Memphis played 12 players in the first half as he tried to find a cohesive group. John Konchar was the only active player who didn’t play in the half. Finding the right lineup combinations will be a task the Grizzlies must handle.
Ja Morant stats vs Timberwolves
The Timberwolves have guarded Ja Morant with Jaden McDaniels in recent matchups, but they made an adjustment on Monday. Edwards took the primary assignment. He’s not as tall as the 6-foot-10 McDaniels, but Edwards, at 6-4, used his athleticism to make things difficult for Morant.
Morant, who missed Friday’s game against San Antonio because of right foot soreness, still was able to get to the free-throw line consistently. He finished with 19 points on 5-for-16 shooting and added seven assists.
Battle-tested
Memphis didn’t get much from its league-leading bench. No Grizzlies reserve scored in double figures. Neither Jaren Jackson Jr. nor Morant had their best nights, but the team pulled out a win against a strong Western Conference opponent. This was the type of win the Grizzlies have been searching for against some of the more physical teams in the West. They were able to match Minnesota’s physical style on Monday.
What’s next
Memphis will continue its stretch of four home games in the next six days. The Grizzlies will be back in action on Wednesday night against the Charlotte Hornets (7 p.m. CT, FanDuel Sports Network). The Hornets (11-28) have been one of the worst teams in the NBA this season, but they’re currently riding a season-high three-game winning streak.
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at [email protected]. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.
