Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies goes up for a shot previous Karl-Anthony Cities of the Minnesota Timberwolves within the fourth quarter throughout Recreation Three of the Western Convention First Spherical at Goal Middle on April 21, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Grizzlies defeated the Timberwolves 104-95. (Getty Pictures by way of AFP)
LOS ANGELES – The Memphis Grizzlies clawed again from a 26-point deficit to stun the Minnesota Timberwolves 104-95 on Thursday and take a 2-1 lead of their NBA playoff collection.
Down 26 factors within the second quarter and 25 with 3:10 left within the third, the Grizzlies by no means gave up on the Goal Middle in Minneapolis, the place they out-scored the Timberwolves 37-12 within the fourth quarter to match the fourth-largest comeback in NBA playoff historical past.
Desmond Bayne scored 26 factors, Brandon Clarke added 20 off the bench and Ja Morant had a triple-double of 16 factors, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Grizzlies, who used a 21-0 fourth-quarter scoring run to supply the most important comeback in franchise playoff historical past.
“Everyone stayed with it, stayed resilient all through the entire complete recreation,” Bane mentioned of a Grizzlies workforce that took the lead for the primary time with 6:44 left to play.
“Whether or not we have been up, down, no matter — it was sufficient to get it carried out.”
Minnesota led 47-21 with 10:28 left within the second quarter when the Grizzlies mounted their first cost, trimming the deficit to seven factors at halftime .
The Timberwolves regained the higher hand with a fast begin to the third quarter, taking a 73-50 lead on Jaden McDaniels’ three-pointer with 4:28 left within the interval.
D’Angelo Russell’s three-pointer with 3:10 left within the third put Minnesota up 79-54, and regardless of the Grizzlies’ scoring surge to finish the interval they trailed by 16 going into the fourth.
Bane drilled a three-pointer with 8:33 to play to cap a 21-0 scoring run that tied the sport at 83-83.
Tyus Jones drained a three-pointer to place Memphis up for the primary time, 86-85 — and so they didn’t path once more.
Russell led the Timberwolves with 22 factors, however he missed all three of his pictures from the sector in a scoreless fourth and teammate Karl-Anthony Cities, restricted by foul bother and aggressive protection from the Grizzlies, was held to simply eight factors.
“It’s an emotional victory — coming from being down rather a lot,” Bane mentioned, however he cautioned that there was nonetheless numerous work to do within the best-of-seven Western Convention collection.
“We’ve bought to maintain our heads. It’s first to 4.”
In different video games Thursday, the Dallas Mavericks have been once more with out injured star Luka Doncic as they took on the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake Metropolis whereas the Denver Nuggets hosted the Golden State Warriors.
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