Clarke earns T-wolves’ praise after Game 5
Ja Morant’s winning layup Tuesday enhanced his reputation this season as a budding star. But he shared the fourthquarter spotlight with Brandon Clarke in the Memphis Grizzlies‘ Game 5 win at Fedexforum.
While Morant did the scoring, Clarke was active on the glass as the Grizzlies took a 3-2 series lead. He had seven offensive rebounds in the period, including five in the final 4:53 of regulation. His most crucial rebound wasn’t even a grab but a tap-out.
After Tyus Jones missed a 3-pointer, Clarke tipped the ball to an open Morant, who made the go-ahead 3-pointer putting the Grizzlies up 107-106 with 1:03 left. They never trailed again as Morant closed the door with his twisting finish over Jarrod Vanderbilt with one second left.
Clarke had 21 points and a career-high tying 15 rebounds, including 10 in the fourth. He had more offensive rebounds (nine) than the Minnesota Timberwolves did as a team (six). As they contemplated another blown double-digit fourth-quarter lead this series, the Timberwolves could only praise Clarke’s energy and relentless play.
“He just knows where to go. He’s always in the right spot at the right time,” Timberwolves center Karl-anthony Towns said. “You go for a block, he’s magically around right at the exact spot where the ball’s coming. He has a knack for rebounding, we got to box him out better and do a better job keeping him on the ground.”
“His second jump is crazy,” forward Anthony Edwards added. “I don’t know, we’ll figure it out before Friday.”
Even NBA peers paid Clarke respect. Celtics forward Grant Williams tweeted that Clarke “is the reason the grizz could win this game (sic).”
It was more validation for a player in his third season filling into his role. Despite coming off the bench, Clarke’s averaging 16.4 points and 8.6 rebounds with 3.6 offensive rebounds per game. He’s also had two double-doubles and two games with at least 20 points.
Clarke and Desmond Bane have been as consistent as any Grizzlies player this series, and it’s helped offset a rough showing by Jaren Jackson Jr. As Morant stamped his rising stardom, Clarke reminded why the team was wise trading up to draft him the same night they drafted Morant two years ago.
The Timberwolves have seen why up close this series. One game away from elimination, they’ve yet to solve Clarke as the rebounding X-factor who’s caused them fits heading into Game 6 on Friday.
“When you catch somebody like him, you just got to box him out. You can’t box him out and try to rebound because he’ll go jump and tap it. Just got to box him out. He was just a freak today,” Edwards said.