Yes Morant, Memphis Grizzlies rally, beat Timberwolves at MLK Day game

On By Littum

Matchups between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Minnesota Timberwolves tend to have some 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 chance 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 – great 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 it tried to find a cohesive group. John Konchar was the only active player who did not play in the half. Finding the right lineup combinations will be a task for the Grizzlies to handle.

Yes 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 task. 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, was still 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. or Morant had their best nights, but the team won against a strong Western Conference opponent. This was the type of win the Grizzlies have been looking 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 four-game home stretch over the next six days. The Grizzlies will be back in action 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 are currently riding a season-high three-game winning streak.

Damichael Cole is the one Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at [email protected]. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.