Thursday isn’t a must-win game for the Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves, but it’s pretty close.
The two Western Conference foes are jockeying for playoff positioning with hopes of securing a top-six seed.
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The Grizzlies (47-32) are at home, where they have a 25-14 record this season. Memphis is also 2-0 against Minnesota (46-33) this season.
This will be the first time the Grizzlies will play the Timberwolves without Jaylen Wells in their lineup. Wells, who broke his wrist in Tuesday’s game, is usually assigned the top perimeter scorer from the opposing team. He guarded Anthony Edwards in the Grizzlies’ previous meetings against Minnesota.
Vince Williams Jr. and John Konchar are among the Grizzlies players expected to guard Edwards more.
If the Grizzlies win on Thursday, they’ll cinch at least a top-seven seed in the Western Conference.
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Memphis trails 84-75 with 8:26 left in the third quarter. The Timberwolves are currently on a 15-0 run after trailing at halftime.
Zach Edey picked up his fourth foul 18 seconds into the third quarter. Santi Aldama is in to replace Edey, who had four points and four rebounds in the first half.
Halftime: Grizzlies 72, Timberwolves 67
It was high-volume scoring in the first half. Ja Morant and Desmond Bane have combined for 42 points. Bane is 6-for-6 on 3-pointers. Anthony Edwards leads the Timberwolves with 26 points.
End of first quarter: Timberwolves 37, Grizzlies 31
The Grizzlies are keeping pace, but the Timberwolves have gotten off to a strong start from deep. Minnesota has made five 3-pointers while shooting 8-for-11 overall. Memphis trails 21-16 with 6:27 left in the first quarter.
The Grizzlies will start Vince Williams Jr. at small forward after losing Jaylen Wells to a right wrist injury. Williams will be relied on as a point of attack defender after losing Wells.
- TV channel: FanDuel Sports Network
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PLAYOFF SCENARIOS: Ja Morant, Grizzlies vs LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Lakers if NBA playoffs started today
Game lines and odds from BetMGM:
Moneyline: Grizzlies +105
Spread: Timberwolves -2.5
Over/under: 230.5
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at [email protected]. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.
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This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Grizzlies vs Timberwolves: Ja Morant, Anthony Edwards highlights
