Grizzlies rally to shock Timberwolves in NBA playoffs

The Memphis Grizzlies clawed back from a 26-factor deficit to stun the Minnesota Timberwolves 104-95 on Thursday and take a 2-1 lead in their NBA playoff series.

Down 26 points within the 2nd quarter and 25 with 3:10 left within the third, the Grizzlies by no means gave up on the Target Center in Minneapolis, in which they out-scored the Timberwolves 37-12 within the fourth quarter to healthy the fourth-biggest comeback in NBA playoff records.

Desmond Bayne scored 26 factors, Brandon Clarke added 20 off the bench and Ja Morant had a triple-double of sixteen points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists for the Grizzlies, who used a 21-0 fourth-quarter scoring run to provide the largest comeback in franchise playoff history.

“Everybody stayed with it, stayed resilient throughout the whole entire game,” Bane said of a Grizzlies team that took the lead for the first time with 6:44 left to play.

“Whether we were up, down, whatever — it was enough to get it done.”

Minnesota led 47-21 with 10:28 left in the second quarter when the Grizzlies mounted their first charge, trimming the deficit to seven points at halftime.

The Timberwolves regained the upper hand with a quick start to the third quarter, taking a 73-50 lead on Jaden McDaniels’ three-pointer with 4:28 left in the period.

D’Angelo Russell’s three-pointer with 3:10 left in the third put Minnesota up 79-54, and despite the Grizzlies’ scoring surge to end the period 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 game at 83-83.

Tyus Jones drained a three-pointer to put Memphis up for the first time, 86-85 — and they didn’t trail again.

Russell led the Timberwolves with 22 points, but he missed all three of his shots from the field in a scoreless fourth and teammate Karl-Anthony Towns, limited by foul trouble and aggressive defense from the Grizzlies, was held to just eight points.

“It’s an emotional victory — coming from being down a lot,” Bane said, but he cautioned that there was still a lot of work to do in the best-of-seven Western Conference series.

“We’ve got to keep our heads. It’s first to four.”

In different games Thursday, the Dallas Mavericks have been once more with out injured superstar Luka Doncic as they took at the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City whilst the Denver Nuggets hosted the Golden State Warriors.