The Memphis Grizzlies will play the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third game of their best-of-seven NBA Western Conference quarterfinal series on Thursday at the Target Center. The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 125-96 in Game 2 on Tuesday night, avenging their early loss at home. The Wolves will try and utilize their home-court advantage after stealing a game in Memphis.
This should be the matchup of the night Timberwolves continue to give the Grizzlies all they can handle, and both teams can flat out score. The Timberwolves have split their regular-season and postseason matchups 3-3, demonstrating that they are not scared by the Grizzlies. Meanwhile, Memphis will look to prove why they are the number two seed in the West and title contenders. The Memphis Grizzlies are the road favorites at -1.5, and the total is set at 236 points.
Memphis Grizzlies Played Complete Game in Dominating Win in Game 2
Memphis led by 11 points at halftime and never looked back after that, building a 19-point advantage by the third quarter to hold off the Timberwolves. With 23 points, Ja Morant was the Grizzlies’ leading scorer, and Memphis’ defense was outstanding, restricting Minnesota to a 39.5 percent shooting percentage.
Memphis is scoring an average of 120.5 points per game during the postseason, and the leading scorer for the Grizzlies is Ja Morant, with an average of 27.5 points per game. Morant is also the leader in assists with an average of 6.8 dishes per contest. Dillon Brooks is the second-leading scorer with an average of 16.5 points per game through two playoff games. The Grizzlies are shooting 46.6% overall and 29.5% from 3-point land.
Memphis played well at both ends of the court in Tuesday’s Game 2 victory, but the Grizzlies need an even better game on defense Thursday on the road. Memphis is allowing an average of 109.9 points per game, and during two games of this series, have allowed an average of 113.0 points per game.
The Timberwolves are a much different team at home than on the road, but the Grizzlies are holding opponents to 45.5% shooting overall and 34.9% shooting from behind the 3-point line. Memphis averages an NBA-best 49.2 rebounds per game, and they’ll look to continue to crash the boards to keep the ball out of Minnesota’s hands.
Minnesota Timberwolves Look to Utilize Home-Court
Although Minnesota dropped Game 2 on Tuesday, the Grizzlies still have home-court advantage after winning one of two games in Memphis. Anthony Edwards led Minnesota in scoring with 20 points in Tuesday’s loss. Despite that effort, Memphis outrebounded Minnesota 48-40, and Minnesota had 20 turnovers. After giving up 124 points in their last contest, the Timberwolves will need to compete better on defense to have a chance in this one.
Minnesota has the best 3-point shooting percentage in the NBA, and it has been on display in this series hitting 27 three’s already. The offense clearly runs through Karl-Anthony Towns, who leads this Minnesota squad in points, rebounds, and blocks.
However, keep an eye on Anthony Edwards, who is starting to hit his stride on the floor. Edwards has caught fire after scoring 49 points against San Antonio, 30 points in the Play-In triumph against the Clippers, and 36 points in Game 1 against Memphis in the last two weeks.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Memphis Grizzlies Betting Prediction
Minnesota looked strong in Game one against Memphis, but they were easily crushed in Game two, looking like a seventh seed. Regardless, the Timberwolves will play at home on Thursday, and Minnesota was 26-15 at the Target Center during the regular season.
Minnesota has covered the spread in eight of its past eleven games when playing at home against a team with a winning road record, and the Timberwolves have covered the spread in nine of their last twelve games after losing by ten points or more. Memphis has struggled on the road, and they have failed to cover the spread in seven of their last nine contests.
The Timberwolves are in a great spot to take control of the series in this one, and I think the home-court advantage helps them out.
Timberwolves ML +116
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