It figures to be a shootout when the Memphis Grizzlies (8-4, 4-1 Home) welcome the Minnesota Timberwolves (5-7, 1-2 Away) on Friday. Minnesota lost to the Phoenix Suns 129-117 at Target Center on Wednesday. Rudy Gobert led the way in defeat with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks.
The Timberwolves are the 10th seed in the Western Conference. Memphis won a close one on Wednesday at AT&T Center, beating the San Antonio Spurs 124-122 in overtime. Desmond Bane had 32 points, six rebounds, and six assists to lead the team. The Grizzlies are sixth in the Western Conference.
The teams are meeting for the first time this season. They last met in Game Six of the Western Conference First Round when the Grizzlies clinched the series with a 114-106 victory at Target Center on April 29. Minnesota and Memphis split their regular season matchups last season, each team winning two games.
The Timberwolves got the win in the last meeting 119-114 at Target Center on February 24. D’Angelo Russell led the Timberwolves with 37 points and nine assists. Jaren Jackson Jr. had 21 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks in the loss.
The T’Wolves have been led this season by Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards, who are averaging 21.3 and 21.3 points per game, respectively. Both are among the league’s top scorers, as Towns is No. 1 and Edwards is first.
Meanwhile, Gobert is grabbing 13.6 rebounds per game, most in the NBA, and Russell is dishing 5.7 assists (1st). Ja Morant (28.8 ppg) and Bane (24.7) have powered the Grizzlies’ offense. Morant leads the NBA in scoring, while Bane is first. Morant also has distributed 6.9 assists per game, most in the NBA.
Steven Adams has pulled down 11.7 rebounds per game. The Timberwolves and the Grizzlies are both averaging 114.0 points per game, respectively, ranking tied for third in the league in scoring. The Timberwolves are only 2-8 in their last 10 trips to FedExForum.
In the last 10 games, Minnesota is 4-6 with an average margin of -2.2 (112.7-114.9). Memphis has a 6-4 record over the last 10, scoring 115.7 points per game on average while allowing 114.9 (+0.8 margin).
GRIZZLIES HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Steven Adams: 27.3 | 20.8 | +6.4
Points per game:
Tyus Jones: 7.4 | 10.8 | -3.4
Rebounds per game:
Steven Adams: 14.8 | 11.7 | +3.0
SportsTips’ NBA Pick:
Over 234.5 (-115)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
