Grizzlies rally past Wolves to reach playoff second round

MINNEAPOLIS: The Memphis Grizzlies didn’t act their age in this first-round series against Minnesota, especially when they faced a double-digit deficit - all three times - entering the fourth quarter.

With another relentless and resolute finish, the Grizzlies finished off the Timberwolves. Their next challenge is coming fast: the Golden State Warriors.

Desmond Bane and Dillon Brooks each scored 23 points and the Grizzlies rallied yet again to eliminate the Timberwolves, winning 114-106 in Game 6 on Friday night.

Brandon Clarke added 17 points and 11 rebounds in another stellar effort off the bench for the Grizzlies, who withstood another quiet night by star Ja Morant and another double-digit deficit entering the fourth quarter.

The Grizzlies advanced in the playoffs for the first time in seven years, this time to meet Golden State, the NBA champions in 2015, 2017 and 2018. Game 1 is in Memphis on Sunday.

Anthony Edwards had 16 of his 30 points in the first quarter for Minnesota. Jaden Mcdaniels had 24 points off the bench and Karl-anthony Towns added 18 points and 10 rebounds, but the late-game struggles were evident again.

With the Grizzlies already the first team in NBA history to win multiple games in the same playoff series by erasing a double-digit-point fourth-quarter deficit, the here-we-go-again feeling was palpable in the building as an 84-74 lead for the Wolves at the third-quarter break quickly vanished.

Bane and Brooks each hit tying 3-pointers midway through the fourth, and Brooks fouled out just 26 seconds ater his evened the score at 97.

Bane then swished another one from deep at 3:03 for a 101-99 lead, the first for the Grizzlies since they were up 39-38. The kill shot came soon ater for a Wolves team that, like so many others against the Grizzlies this season, was consistently a step and a jump behind on the glass.

Tyus Jones missed a pair of 3-pointers from the wing on the same possession, but the Grizzlies rebounded both - and Morant used the second one for a layup and a four-point lead.

Ater Mcdaniels, who had the game of his twoyear career, hit a 3 with 1:34 let to bring the Wolves back within one, Jones - the former Timberwolves player and native of Minnesota - answered with a 3-pointer to bump the lead back to two possessions with 1:09 let.

Despite the devastation of the two squandered leadsindefeatearlierintheseriesandthefranchise’s untrustworthy history, the fans turned out again to give the Wolves a clear advantage.

Former Timberwolves star Latrell Sprewell sat courtside, a few seats down from Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen, a Minnesota native. Local head coaches P.J. Fleck (Gophers football), Ben Johnson (Gophers basketball) and Cheryl Reeve (Lynx) were in the house, too, as fans clutched neon-blue glow sticks for the duration of the night in the packed downtown arena.

Finch and Towns both clapped and waved at the fans as they walked off the court ater the game in appreciation of the season-long support.