Memphis honored its history and its ties to Martin Luther King. In the city where “MLK” was assassinated, the Grizzlies went for a fight and a finish that seemed well understood during a major part of the meeting Monday against Minnesota.
The locals entered the match the best (7-0 then 11-2), when the Wolves missed their first six attempts. The releases of Jaren Jackson Jr and Zach Edey free up space in the Grizzlies racket, and Minnesota takes advantage of this to fully launch its match near the Memphis circle. Naz Reid is in total success, when Minnesota completely goes through the image of Santi Aldama, chief sprinkler from afar, and Ja Morant, muzzled by an Anthony Edwards on mission. Edwards launched and scored eight points in the last two minutes of the first quarter at the heart of a 15-2, synonymous with a seven-point lead after 12 minutes (21-28).
Lowest point total in a period for Memphis
Both teams are terribly clumsy at 3-points in the purest tradition of afternoon matches, and it takes the return of Edwards on one side and Morant on the other to regain some play. The leader of the Grizzlies finally finds his way to the circle, while last year's nice surprise GG Jackson plays his first minutes of the season after a long absence due to injury. This is not enough to revive Memphis, taken by the throat by the aggressiveness of Anthony Edwards, 22 points at the break and already 12 free throws attempted. And even while shooting at 35.4%, the Wolves put in a superb performance by limiting their opponents to 43 points, the lowest total for Memphis this season over a period.
Halftime does not calm people's minds, quite the contrary. This meeting is not an esthete's match and we hear more of the actors' complaints than of the game for several minutes. Not to drive home the point, Minnesota is putting itself at the mercy of a comeback from the locals. It was enough for Desmond Bane and Jaylen Wells to restart the game. Rob Dillingham comes to end a 10-2 for Memphis with a welcome long shot. But the dynamic seems to be in favor of the Grizzlies, even without the scoring contribution of Ja Morant.
The Wolves miss their end of the game, not the Grizzlies
The awakening in attack of Jaren Jackson Jr, weighed down alone in the first period by his three fouls in ten minutes, confirms the comeback of the locals. The Wolves hold on for a while thanks to their bench and their offensive rebounding activity. Reid and Dillingham are ultra valuable and the visitors hit three times from behind the arc on second chances. But by depending on effort instead of constructed actions, Minnesota lets the Grizzlies put their paw on the game. The major trio Morant – Jackson Jr – Bane goes 11-0 in money time (106-100, 2′ to play).
Naz Reid struggles in attack to offer one last hope to his team. But the last possession and Anthony Edwards' desperate 3-point attempt despite a two-point hold summed up the management of the end of the match for the Wolves, beaten for the second time in eight days by the Grizzlies.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– Memphis with character. The Grizzlies achieved a lot of things during this first part of the season, finishing their close games well was not one of them (7-11). Everything was not perfect on Monday, as evidenced by the last two more sluggish minutes, but Taylor Jenkins' men were able to increase their level of intensity at the right time. Being able to count on Jaren Jackson Jr omnipresent rather than on the bench was not trivial either (17 of his 24 points in the second period).
– It was Dr Anthony and Mr Edwards. Anthony Edwards signed an offensive recital in the first period, alternating between his 3-point success and aggressiveness towards the ideal circle while the Grizzlies were hit by fouls. Then upon returning from the locker room, Edwards disappeared, persisting in a crowd of difficult choices and tricky shots (3/10 and five lost balls in the second period), like the one in the last second while Juliius Randle (him also not very brilliant in shooting…) was alone in the racket.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
