Grizzlies overcome Anthony Edwards, end Timberwolves’ streak
Jaren Jackson Jr. had 30 points, Ty Jerome added 19 points with eight assists, and Jaylen Wells scored 18 to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 137-128 victory Monday night over the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves to snap a six-game losing streak.
The Grizzlies also got 16 points and five assists each from reserves Vince Williams Jr. and Cam Spencer and 14 points from Cedric Coward. GG Jackson finished with 13 points and eight boards.
Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 39 points and Jaden McDaniels had 29 on 11-of-14 shooting. Donte DiVincenzo added 21 points and Julius Randle finished with 19 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for Minnesota, which had won four straight.
Memphis built a double-digit lead in the third quarter and extended it to 20 points early in the fourth quarter following three consecutive 3-pointers in a one-minute span. GG Jackson started the flurry of 3s, Jerome followed 39 seconds later and Jaren Jackson Jr. capped the run.
Minnesota made a late-quarter run to trim the Grizzlies' advantage to nine points at 130-121 after a three-point play from Edwards, but Memphis didn't allow the Timberwolves to get any closer. Coward's driving dunk with 1:09 remaining put Memphis ahead 134-121.
The Grizzlies played without star guard Ja Morant, who missed his sixth consecutive game because of a left elbow sprain. He is expected to be out for two more weeks. In all, the Grizzlies operated without six rotation players, including key reserve Santi Aldama (knee).
Memphis stretched its eight-point halftime to 14 points midway through the third quarter. Although the Timberwolves trimmed the Grizzlies advantage to two points (66-64) in the opening minute of the quarter following a 3-pointer by DiVincenzo and a three-point play by Randle, the Grizzlies bounced back to go up 98-86 entering the fourth quarter.
Memphis led most of the first half and went up by as many as 14 points (51-37) midway through the second quarter. The Grizzlies held a 66-58 halftime advantage behind accurate long-range shooting. Memphis made 10 of its 18 3-pointers in the opening half.
The Grizzlies begin a five-game road swing starting Wednesday in Sacramento.