Offensive miscues hurt Grizzlies in loss
A perfect record was put to the test. The Minnesota Timberwolves entered Wednesday night 9-0 in games they led after three quarters. The Memphis Grizzlies trailed by three points going into the fourth quarter despite several unforced errors.
Those unforced errors included uncharacteristic turnovers and missed free throws during key stretches. Those mistakes were the difference in a 109-101 loss to the Timberwolves at the Target Center.
The Grizzlies (12-9) had a seasonhigh 27 turnovers and missed 12 free throws. Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves (11-11) with 29 points, and Jaylen Norwell scored 24 off the bench.
Ja Morant finished with 24 points and six assists before being ejected with 1:22 left in the fourth quarter. The Grizzlies out-rebounded the Timberwolves 59-29, but Minnesota had 13 steals and 11 blocks.
Memphis finished the game with a season-low 17 assists. The 27 turnovers was the most by the Grizzlies since Nov. 2007.
Here are some takeaways from the game.
Lineup changes
The Grizzlies got good news before the game when the team announced that Dillon Brooks was active and starting after dealing with calf soreness. Rookie Jake Laravia joined Desmond Bane, Ziaire Williams and Danny Green as inactive Grizzlies. Laravia missed Wednesday’s game due to left foot soreness.
Minnesota also missed two of its starters. Karl-anthony Towns and Jaden Mcdaniels did not play. Former Grizzlies forward Kyle Anderson and rookie Wendell Moore started in their places. Moore assumed the duties of Morant’s primary defender and held his own. Anderson was active defensively like his days in Memphis.
Jaren Jackson. Jr has limited his fouls for the most part since making his season debut, but he picked up his
fourth foul with 7:19 left in the third quarter. He picked up his fifth foul with 9:49 left in the fourth quarter and went to the bench. He finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Brooks was ejected with 1:22 left in the fourth quarter after his second technical foul. He finished with 12 points, six rebounds and three assists. Morant was ejected during the same break in action while the Grizzlies trailed by nine points.
Offensive miscues
The Grizzlies offense was in a giving mood while having one of their sloppiderson
est performances of the season. Memphis had 15 first-half turnovers and eclipsed their season high of 20 in the third quarter.
At the free-throw line, the Grizzlies couldn’t take advantage. Memphis had 11 missed free throws through three quarters, and the statistics weren’t skewed because of one player. Of the six Grizzlies players that shot free throws, five had misses. Morant and Brooks combined to shoot 10 of 18 on free throws.
Kyle Anderson’s familiarity impact
On certain plays, you could tell An
was familiar with player tendencies on the Grizzlies. He baited Jackson into two offensive fouls that led to the Grizzlies forward being in foul trouble. He got his hands on passes and played a role in disrupting the Grizzlies’ offense. Anderson finished with 10 points, six rebounds and five assists.
What’s next
Memphis will return home to play the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night. This will be De’anthony Melton’s first game against the Grizzlies since being traded for Green and a first-round pick that turned into David Roddy.