NBA Matchups: April 21

Memphis Grizzlies at Minnesota Timberwolves

Team Totals: Grizzlies 119.3, Wolves 117.3

Injury Report: Santi Aldama (O, knee)

Grizzlies projected starters: Ja Morant, Dillon Brooks, Desmond Bane, Kyle Anderson, Jaren Jackson Jr.

Wolves projected starters: D’Angelo Russell, Patrick Beverley, Anthony Edwards, Jarred Vanderbilt, Karl-Anthony Towns

Jenkins quotes: Said Ziaire Williams was very good off the bench, said JJJ and Melton rebounding was huge for them, said they knew Xavier Tillman would be a factor in this series, said they had a lot of discussion on the big lineup (Adams), said a lot was involved on the decision to bench Adams, said taking more 3-pointers “was a step in the right direction” and it helped them thrived in other facets of their offensive game.

Finch quotes: Said they got killed on the glass, said the ball was “super sticky” and they had a hard time driving, said he thought the Steven Adams benching could have been pre-meditated, said they have to be able to find some better looks for Russell, said going away from Adams was something they could’ve “lucked” into, said he wanted more shooting because Jaren Jackson Jr. was setting up down low, said Anthony Edwards has to learn more on when he’s getting trapped and pass out of it, said “halftime came at the right time” to make second-half adjustments, said Naz Reid hasn’t been very good and he has to rebound better, said they “really need [Reid]”, said KAT just has to play a cleaner game regarding fouls.

Stats and Notes: 

*The Grizzlies kept their word on firing more 3-pointers with 34.4% of their shots coming from deep. They’re still leading playoff teams in at-rim volume as they’ve eliminated their mid-range shots, and the Wolves have been attacking a ton while relying on their 3-point volume. The Wolves have flopped in transition so far in this series at a playoff-low -4.3 points+/possession, and they’re getting nothing in transition overall at just 10.8% of their possessions (Grizzlies 16.1%), so the Wolves need to pick it up there. This game continues to be a pace fest with both teams having nine more possessions than any other team so far.

*The Wolves will continue to throw aggressive coverages at Ja, but it doesn’t really matter anymore. He’s driving 20.5 times per game in somewhat limited minutes because of injury and blowout, and it would appear that injury scare from Game 2 is nothing. Morant’s upside is consistently going to be very high in this series.