1st Quarter Report
The Grizzlies fell flat on their face against the Nets last Monday, but memory of that harsh loss doesn’t seem to have tripped them up today. A win is still up for grabs for either team after one quarter, but the Grizzlies are up 26-24 over the Timberwolves.
The Grizzlies came into the game with some extra motivation after the defeat they were dealt the last time these two teams faced off. We’ll see if they’re able to flip the script or if it’ll just be more of the same.
Who’s Playing
Memphis Grizzlies @ Minnesota Timberwolves
Current Records: Memphis 20-38, Minnesota 41-17
How To Watch
- When: Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at 8 p.m. ET
- Where: Target Center — Minneapolis, Minnesota
- TV: Bally Sports – North
- Follow: CBS Sports App
- Online streaming: fuboTV (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.)
- Ticket Cost: $29.87
What to Know
The Grizzlies have enjoyed the comforts of home their last five games, but now they’ll head out on the road. They will challenge the Minnesota Timberwolves at 8:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday at Target Center. The Grizzlies are the clear underdog, so they’re hoping it’s the size of the fight that determines this one.
The Grizzlies gave up the first points and the most points on Monday. They suffered a bruising 111-86 loss at the hands of Brooklyn. The result shouldn’t come as a shock considering that’s the fewest points the Grizzlies have scored all season.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given the score, the Grizzlies struggled to work together and finished the game with only 16 assists. They are 1-8 when they just don’t pass the ball.
Meanwhile, Minnesota beat the Spurs 114-105 on Tuesday. The win made it back-to-back wins for the Timberwolves.
The Timberwolves’ win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Anthony Edwards, who scored 34 points along with five assists and five rebounds. Edwards is on a roll when it comes to points, as he’s now scored 28 or more in the last five games he’s played. Naz Reid was another key contributor, scoring 22 points along with six rebounds and two steals.
Memphis has not been sharp recently as the team’s lost 11 of their last 13 contests, which put a noticeable dent in their 20-38 record this season. As for Minnesota, they are on a roll lately: they’ve won six of their last seven matchups, which provided a nice bump to their 41-17 record this season.
This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: The Grizzlies haven’t given up the ball easily this season, having only averaged 13.9 turnovers per game. However, it’s not like the Timberwolves struggle in that department as they’ve been averaging only 13.9 turnovers per game. Given these competing strengths, it’ll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
The Grizzlies lost to the Timberwolves on the road by a decisive 118-103 margin in their previous meeting back in January. Can the Grizzlies avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We’ll find out soon enough.
Odds
Minnesota is a big 11.5-point favorite against Memphis, according to the latest NBA odds.
The oddsmakers had a good feel for the line for this one, as the game opened with the Timberwolves as a 12.5-point favorite.
The oddsmakers are predicting a defensive showdown and set the over/under low at 210 points.
See NBA picks for every single game, including this one, from SportsLine’s advanced computer model. Get picks now.
Series History
Minnesota has won 6 out of their last 10 games against Memphis.
- Jan 18, 2024 – Minnesota 118 vs. Memphis 103
- Dec 08, 2023 – Minnesota 127 vs. Memphis 103
- Nov 26, 2023 – Minnesota 119 vs. Memphis 97
- Feb 10, 2023 – Memphis 128 vs. Minnesota 107
- Jan 27, 2023 – Minnesota 111 vs. Memphis 100
- Nov 30, 2022 – Minnesota 109 vs. Memphis 101
- Nov 11, 2022 – Memphis 114 vs. Minnesota 103
- Apr 29, 2022 – Memphis 114 vs. Minnesota 106
- Apr 26, 2022 – Memphis 111 vs. Minnesota 109
- Apr 23, 2022 – Minnesota 119 vs. Memphis 118
