Wallace View – Timberwolves 101, Grizzlies 94

MINNEAPOLIS – Marc Gasol insists concerns over his surgically-repaired right foot and bruised ankle in recent days were largely overblown.

The Grizzlies’ franchise center attempted to take a significant step Wednesday toward proving as much. Initially listed as questionable with a bruised ankle sustained in Saturday’s overtime win in Houston, Gasol pushed forward and started in a 101-94 loss to Minnesota in the Grizzlies’ final preseason game.

Gasol said the decision was made to play after a series of conversations with the Grizzlies’ medical staff and sports science analysts, who reassured him there was no risk of further injury to his ankle or foot. Those consultations with specialists have increased since the start of camp, with Gasol’s workload intensifying in preparation for the Oct. 26 season opener at home against the Timberwolves.

“I asked what was the risk? What does this mean?” Gasol said Wednesday of dealing with the recent soreness. “They said, ‘Nothing, and it’s not related to the foot. It’s more of the ankle. It’s a part of your body getting used to the load.’ We’re being very cautious with the progression. But the bone will adjust to the load you play, you train, you practice, you do in the weight room. So that was a reaction.”

Grizzlies coach David Fizdale said Gasol’s body has responded well to the treatment and workouts in the days that followed the game in Houston, where Gasol played his intended 20 minutes but left the court in the third quarter to treat soreness. Gasol explained Wednesday that he left the bench in Houston because trainers didn’t have a tape cutter immediately available once he removed his right shoe.

Since then, Gasol has posted light-hearted messages on social media to temper concern among fans. He participated in scrimmage work at Tuesday’s practice, went through the team shootaround Wednesday morning and completed another extensive workout 90 minutes before facing the Timberwolves.

“We got some positive news back,” Fizdale told reporters just before the start of Wednesday’s game. “It turns out Marc’s deal was not as severe as we thought. And I wanted to give him some minutes.”

By playing, Gasol avoided rust from a protracted layoff but never found a consistent rhythm in his matchup with Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns, the NBA rookie of the year last season. Gasol missed seven of his eight shots in the first half and committed three fouls in his first 12 minutes. He finished 2-for-10 from the field for six points, four rebounds, four fouls and a steal in 20 minutes.

“You try to take steps forward,” said Gasol, who has started all six exhibition games. “They might not be big steps, but you want to be moving forward so you’re not where you were the day before. As long as there’s not a risk factor … then it’s a good thing. Why not? Being cautious for no reason is not smart either. You want to get the foot to start feeling – you might not feel great – but normal and moving.”

Knowing when to push forward through discomfort and when to pull back amid pain is an ongoing process for Gasol. There’s a delicate balancing act between risk and reassurance. Gasol admits this preseason has been about listening to his body and embracing the sports science data on his foot.

“You get used to them as you learn more about your body,” Gasol said. “So when I feel like this, this is what it is, this is what it means and this is the risk. You can manage that. The foot is not going to be great, probably until about a year post-surgery. But you’re going to feel some things, and you can’t just go into a shell and hide every time you feel something in your foot.”

The Grizzlies were outscored 23-12 late in the second quarter, when the Timberwolves increased their lead to 20. The blowout commenced from there, with Minnesota’s young, athletic core of Ricky Rubio, Zach LaVine and Karl-Anthony Towns engineering the spurt on a night Andrew Wiggins sat out. Memphis committed nine turnovers that led to 15 Minnesota points, with 11 coming on fastbreaks in the period. The Timberwolves would eventually lead by as many as 40 before the Grizzlies managed a late push.

There weren’t many highlights on a lethargic night from the Grizzlies. But leave it to D.J. Stephens to provide the one Memphis play that drew ‘oohs’ from fans at the Target Center. Stephens added to his preseason reel when he sliced down the lane for a double-clutch, two-handed jam in traffic at the 4:33 mark of the first quarter to cut the Grizzlies deficit to 20-13. That was as good as it got for Memphis.

“I still felt a little like I’ve got to find (a rhythm),” said Davis, who had five rebounds, three points and two blocks in 12 minutes. “But when you get on the court, it just all starts to come back slowly. Defense is just something I love doing.”

With mostly end-of-the-roster players in the game, the Grizzlies outscored Minnesota 37-10 in the fourth quarter and cut a 40-point deficit to four in the final minutes. But by then, the damage from 22 turnovers that led directly to 28 points by the Timberwolves was too much to overcome. Memphis entered the game averaging just 13 turnovers, which were fewest in the league in the preseason.

Andrew Harrison earned his second preseason start at shooting guard alongside Gasol, Mike Conley, JaMychal Green and James Ennis. Harrison was the only starter to score in double figures with 10 points. He saw extended playing time because fellow rookie Wade Baldwin IV sat out with a sore knee.

Grizzlies come up short in Minnesota, 94-101

Timberwolves at Grizzlies, 7 p.m. Wednesday at FedExForum (Regular season opener).

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