The Timberwolves face off against the Grizzlies
Before the All-Star, the Grizzlies' six-game winning streak ended with the Portland Trail Blazers, but they were still the third-best team in the West, and Morant was still one of the best players in the younger generation. In the first game after the All-Star, the Grizzlies are going to challenge the Minnesota Timberwolves. This season's Timberwolves are different, they are in seventh place in the West, Towns finally took the team, and also won the honor of three-point king on the All-Star stage, the first big three-point king in NBA history.
The Grizzlies are in the top ten in the league in terms of offensive and defensive efficiency, and it can be said that this is a team without weaknesses, which is undoubtedly a huge challenge for the Timberwolves. But young Towns, Russell and Edwards are not afraid of such a challenge, on the contrary, they will be extremely excited by such an opponent.
23 points in the final quarter led the team to a reversal
Facing adams' stout interior, Towns seemed a little uncomfortable, only 4 points and 6 rebounds on 2-of-6 shooting, Russell and Edwards were not ideal in their hands, although Beverley hit 2 three-pointers, but the team only scored 21 points, and the Grizzlies easily bombed 31 points, including Zaire Williams 11 points, 1 assist and 1 steal on 4-of-4 shooting. After returning from the second quarter, the Timberwolves gradually regained their touch, Towns scored 10 points and 1 assist on 4-of-4 shooting, Russell also had 7 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist, and the team scored 32 points in a single quarter.
The Grizzlies looked a little confused, and although Morant had 7 points and 2 rebounds, he used 8 shots. So by the end of the half, the Grizzlies were just three points ahead of the Timberwolves at 56-53. In the second half, Downs showed dominance on the inside, scoring 6 points and 1 rebound on 3-of-4 shooting, Beasley 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting, the Timberwolves taking 31 points in a single quarter, and Morant did not score a point on 0-of-3 shooting, the Grizzlies only scored 27 points, and at the end of the third quarter, the Timberwolves successfully overtook the Grizzlies by 1 point.
In the final quarter that determined the outcome of the game, Morant continued to impact the basket, although the feel was not good, but still got 10 points, 1 rebound and 2 assists, but encountered the sudden outbreak of Russell, 12 shots 8, three points 5 shots 2, a single quarter bombed 23 points, 1 rebound and 3 assists, in the Downs 5 shots 0, Edwards did not score a point, Russell carried the team, leading the Timberwolves 119-114 narrow victory over the Grizzlies.
The Eye saves the Timberwolves
Towns suffered foul trouble, the game only played 28 minutes, 9 of 19 shots to get 22 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks, although not bad, but in the last quarter of 5 shots 0, only rely on free throws to get 2 points, the key moment again pulled the crotch. As for Edwards, it was a whole game of crotch pulling, with only 5 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists on 11-of-11 shooting. In the case of a double-edged crotch, Russell stepped forward to save the team, scoring 23 points in the final quarter, 37 points, 2 rebounds and 9 assists, leading the team to a cold defeat to the third-place Grizzlies in the West.
In addition to the trident, Wolves' Beasley also played very well, with 17 points and 1 rebound on 6-of-9 shooting, and Beverley had 13 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. The Grizzlies suffered 2 consecutive losses, Morant did not feel good, only 20 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals on 7 of 25 shooting, Jalen Jackson Jr. was 21 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 blocks, Williams had 21 points and 4 rebounds on 7 of 11 shots, and the whole team also had 6 people to score in double figures.