The Grizzlies fight the Timberwolves again
While everyone knows that the Timberwolves are dangerous this season, no one would have imagined that they would be able to beat the Grizzlies at home in the first game of the playoffs. You know, this season's Grizzlies are second in the West, third in the league in offensive efficiency in the regular season, sixth in the league in defensive efficiency, and first in the league in steals and rebounds, and are a team without weaknesses. However, the Timberwolves still won, for the simple reason that Towns and Edwards made Adams a liability on the court.
Towns hit Adams and pulled it straight out, whether it was Downs shooting three points or breaking through the frame, Adams couldn't do anything. Edwards switched to defend Adams, and that was even more accurate. So, if the Grizzlies want to win, they have to give up Adams and let Jarren Jackson Jr. play the starting center, but then Downs has no one to stop in the box. Two bottles of poison, one for the Grizzlies.
Adams was discarded
The Grizzlies continued to let Adams start the game, but after 2 minutes and 50 seconds, the Grizzlies immediately understood that this would only make the team repeat the same mistake. So, they replaced Adams, Morant blasted 9 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists, Bane also had 8 points, the team blossomed more, and scored 33 points in a single quarter, but the Timberwolves also scored 32 points, including Downs with 9 points and 2 rebounds, but also received 2 fouls. After returning from the second quarter, Towns attacked again and could only commit three breaks, and the Grizzlies' second-team lineup began to exert force.
Morant scored a single point, the Grizzlies still scored 27 points in a single quarter, and limited the Timberwolves to only 17 points. So, at the end of the half, the Grizzlies led the Timberwolves by 11 points, 60-49. In the second half, Downs only had 4 points and 5 rebounds on 1-of-3 shooting, and received 2 fouls, directly backing 5 fouls. Although Edwards exploded with 11 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists, the team only scored 28 points, while Morant also had 12 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists, leading the Grizzlies to successfully extend the lead to 19 points.
After returning from the final quarter, the Timberwolves didn't have much resistance, and the Grizzlies briefly extended their lead to 30 points, and the game lost suspense. With 6 minutes and 17 seconds left, the Timberwolves switched to the full bench, and the Grizzlies took another 2 minutes to replace Morant. In the end, the Memphis Grizzlies won 124-96 at home to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the series scored a 1-1 draw.
Seven scored in double figures
A game without suspense, after the Grizzlies abandoned Adams, the Timberwolves didn't seem to be able to play. Towns was plagued by fouls, with only 15 points and 11 rebounds on 4-of-7 shooting, Edwards had 20 points and 6 rebounds, but shot 7-of-16 from the field, and Russell shot 3-of-11 from the field with 11 points, 2 rebounds and 4 assists. In the whole game, the Timberwolves only delivered 16 assists and 19 turnovers, compared with the Grizzlies with 29 assists and only 9 turnovers, and the team's seven-man scored in double figures.
Morant easily had a quasi-triple-double of 23 points, 9 rebounds and 10 assists, Jaren Jr. had 16 points and 7 rebounds, Bane had 16 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, Clark and Tillman and Williams on the bench all had 13 points, and Jones also had 10 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. In addition to seven people scoring in double figures, Brooks had 9 points, 1 rebound and 4 assists, and Melton had 7 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists. Although Sledgehammer Anderson only has 2 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assist, he is the first in the team with plus-minus +24, and the data cannot reflect his value.