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| 4:30 PM PT5:30 PM MT6:30 PM CT7:30 PM ET0:30 GMT8:30 5:30 PM MST7:30 PM EST4:30 UAE (+1)01:3019:30 ET6:30 PM CTNaN:� , January 27, 2023 Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota Attendance: 17,136 |
Grizzlies hope to 'find groove' against Timberwolves
Memphis Grizzlies at Minnesota Timberwolves
- The Grizzlies are one of three teams that Minnesota has an all-time winning record against in regular-season play at 52-51. The other two teams the T'Wolves have more wins against than losses are the Nets (36-27) and Kings (64-59).
- Memphis is on a season-long four-game losing streak despite having scored at least 100 points in each game. The Grizzlies have never lost five consecutive games while also scoring 100+ points in each game in the streak.
- Ja Morant has at least 20 points and seven assists in six straight games, the longest such streak in team history. Only Mike Conley had ever had a streak of more than three consecutive games for the Grizzlies (two five-game streaks) prior to Morant's current streak.
- The Timberwolves allowed six points off turnovers and four fast-break points in their win over New Orleans on Wednesday. Prior to the win, Minnesota hadn't given up so few points in those two categories in the same game since November 22, 2017 against the Magic.
- Anthony Edwards has scored 112 points over his last three games (37.3 points per game). That is tied for the third-most points over a three-game span in team history with only Karl-Anthony Towns having scored more (115 in March 2022 and 113 in February 2019).
- Minnesota is at .500 or better through 50 games for the second consecutive season after doing so just once in the 16 seasons prior to 2021-22 (2017-18). Of the 10 previous seasons that the T'Wolves were .500 or better at this point, they made the playoffs in nine of them.
The Memphis Grizzlies will look to apply the brakes on a four-game skid Friday night when they play the finale of a season-high five-game road trip against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis.
Memphis entered the lengthy trek on a high, winning a franchise high-tying 11 straight games before its fortunes took a decided a turn for the worse.
The Grizzlies dropped a pair of narrow decisions to begin the road trip, lost a lopsided battle in Sacramento and saw a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter go by the boards in a 122-120 setback to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.
"No excuses with guys in and out. We've always fared well when guys have to step up in different roles," Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said after his team lost four games in a row for the first time since a stretch from Feb. 2-8, 2021.
"It's just a rough patch in the season. It happens," Jenkins said.
Ja Morant collected 29 points and 12 assists on Wednesday in his return from a one-game absence due to soreness in his left ankle. He had 28 and eight, respectively, in the Grizzlies' 114-103 win over the Timberwolves on Nov. 11 and 24 points in a 109-101 setback in Minneapolis on Nov. 30.
Brandon Clarke contributed 19 points and eight rebounds on Wednesday after being inserted into the starting lineup in place of Steven Adams, who is sidelined for three to five weeks with a sprained right knee ligament.
"We're definitely going to miss [Adams]. He does so much for us, all the little things, to impact winning," Jenkins said. "We're going to need other guys to raise their level in those departments. Obviously, we're struggling right now on both ends of the floor. We have to find our groove. It's next man up mentality."
The Timberwolves have found their groove by winning nine of their last 13 games to reach .500 on the season.
Anthony Edwards erupted for 37 points in Minnesota's 111-102 win at the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night. The former top overall draft pick's ability to push the tempo and make the most of his options in transition was well received by Minnesota coach Chris Finch.
"That's something we've been imploring him to do more of. Just go, go, go," Finch said. "In transition, he's pretty much unstoppable."
Edwards has averaged 37.3 points over his last three games. He scored 28 and 29 points, respectively, in the two meetings against Memphis this season.
Rudy Gobert collected 17 points and 12 rebounds on Wednesday for the Timberwolves, who begin a six-game homestand against the Grizzlies.
Minnesota has won seven of its last eight home games to improve to 16-10 at Target Center this season.
Memphis, which has produced stellar results at home in its own right, is just 11-14 on the road.
--Field Level Media
Updated January 27, 2023
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