The Memphis Grizzlies will look to use the brakes on a four-game skid Friday evening when it performs the finale of a season-high five-game street journey in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis.
Memphis entered the prolonged trek on a excessive, successful a franchise high-tying 11 straight video games earlier than its fortunes took a determined flip for the more severe.
The Grizzlies dropped a pair of slim selections to start the street journey, misplaced a lopsided battle in Sacramento and noticed a 10-point lead within the fourth quarter go by the boards in a 122-120 setback to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday evening.
“No excuses with guys in and out. We’ve always fared well when guys have to step up in different roles,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins mentioned after his workforce misplaced 4 video games in a row for the primary time since a stretch from Feb. 2-8, 2021.
“It’s just a rough patch in the season. It happens,” Jenkins mentioned.
Ja Morant collected 29 factors and 12 assists on Wednesday in his return from a one-game absence resulting from soreness in his left ankle. He had 28 and eight, respectively, within the Grizzlies’ 114-103 win over the Timberwolves on Nov. 11 and 24 factors in a 109-101 setback in Minneapolis on Nov. 30.
Brandon Clarke contributed 19 factors and eight rebounds on Wednesday after being inserted into the beginning lineup instead of Steven Adams, who’s sidelined for 3 to 5 weeks with a sprained proper knee ligament.
“We’re definitely going to miss. He does so much for us, all the little things, to impact winning,” Jenkins mentioned. “We’re going to need other guys to raise their level in those departments. Obviously, we’re struggling right now on both ends of the floor. We have to find our groove. It’s next man up mentality.”
The Timberwolves have discovered their groove by successful 9 of their final 13 video games to succeed in .500 on the season.
Anthony Edwards erupted for 37 factors in Minnesota’s 111-102 win on the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday evening. The former prime general draft decide’s means to push the tempo and benefit from his choices in transition was nicely obtained by Minnesota coach Chris Finch.
“That’s something we’ve been imploring him to do more of. Just go, go, go,” Finch mentioned. “In transition, he’s pretty much unstoppable.”
Edwards has averaged 37.3 factors over his final three video games. He scored 28 and 29 factors, respectively, within the two conferences in opposition to Memphis this season.
Rudy Gobert collected 17 factors and 12 rebounds on Wednesday for the Timberwolves, who start a six-game homestand in opposition to the Grizzlies.
Minnesota has gained seven of its final eight dwelling video games to enhance to 16-10 at Target Center this season.
Memphis, which has produced stellar outcomes at dwelling in its personal proper, is simply 11-14 on the street.
