Minnesota Timberwolves beat Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 with 32-point from Ja Morant

Minnesota Timberwolves beat Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 with 32-point from Ja Morant

Web Desk
April 17, 2022

Minnesota Timberwolves beat Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 with 32-point from Ja Morant

Referees were booed on his first few touches of the game, while Minnesota Timberwolves player Patrick Beverley was screamed at for every difficult call.

While Memphis rap group Three 6 Mafia’s song “Growl Towels” blasted on the speakers, yellow “One hitta quitta” were waved throughout FedExForum before Grizzlies player introductions.

The Timberwolves struck first, but the Grizzlies were not knocked out. The Timberwolves took a six-point lead in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter after trading shots.

The Grizzlies had the most loose balls recovered in the NBA, while the Timberwolves had the most crucial 50-50 play.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Malik Beasley kicked away an open 3-pointer to Jaden McDaniels after a Timberwolves miss rolled over the free-throw line.

The Grizzlies had the most loose balls recovered in the NBA, while the Timberwolves had the most crucial 50-50 play.

Timberwolves guard Malik Beasley kicked away an open 3-pointer to Jaden McDaniels after a Timberwolves miss rolled over the free-throw line.

Minnesota Timberwolves shooting (and Grizzlies non-shooting)

All season, one of Minnesota’s strengths and one of Memphis’ shortcomings has been volume 3-point shooting. On Saturday, the two things came to a head. The Timberwolves finished 16-for-41 on 3-pointers, which is the most in the NBA.

Bane and Dillon Brooks combined to fire 6-for-12 from 3-point range for Memphis, but the rest of the squad shot 1-for-15.

Minnesota Timberwolves exploit Steven Adams mismatch

In the first half, Taylor Jenkins kept to his typical rotations, but in the second half, he made a much-needed alteration.

In the third quarter, Brandon Clarke came on to replace Steven Adams as the first substitute. Against the Timberwolves’ speedy guards, Clarke provided more mobility.

In the first half, Edwards went for Adams several times, but Karl Anthony-Towns zipped by him off the dribble and finished with 29 points.

In his 16 first-half minutes, Adams recorded the game’s lowest plus-minus (-13). In the second half, Adams played eight minutes. He had no points, three rebounds, and three assists in the game.

The highs and the lows

Near the end of the first half, Morant drove to the basket and was greeted by Edwards, who knocked the ball out of his hands.

Many of those skillful finishes were completed by Morant, but that moment signified that Edwards was the star on Saturday.

In the first half, the Grizzlies defended Edwards with Bane, then switched to Brooks in the second half. In the first half, Brooks restricted D’Angelo Russell to 1-for-6 shooting, but Edwards was locked in.

He went 12-for-23 from the field for 36 points. He jogged back up the court after making his final 3-pointer with 4:37 left in the fourth quarter, exclaiming “yea!” and nodding his head.

Jaren Jackson Jr.’s performance perfectly summed all the highs and lows. With his seventh block in the third quarter, Jackson set the Grizzlies playoff blocks record.

He was also plagued by foul problems and was forced to sit out the opening three quarters. With 11:22 left in the fourth quarter, Jackson received his fifth foul and was forced to the bench. He finished with 12 points and seven blocks on 4-for-13 shooting.