The Postgame Cleanup is brought to you by ServiceMaster. The Memphis Grizzlies snapped their 11-game losing streak, defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves 95 to 92 Monday night at FedExForum.
After 12 lead changes through the first three quarters, the Grizzlies led 76-75 going into the fourth quarter. Memphis had tied or trailed their opponents heading into the final period in all 11 games throughout its losing skid. The Grizzlies outscored the Timberwolves in second change points 12-6 and fast break points 24-8 including a 18-2 edge in the first half.
Marc Gasol led Memphis with 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists, tallying his ninth 20-point game of the season. Tyreke Evans contributed 16 points and nine assists. JaMychal Green added 14 and James Ennis III finished with 13 off the bench. The Grizzlies bench outscored the Timberwolves 33-17 and improve to 8-12 when outscoring their opponent’s bench.
The Timberwolves got a strong start behind guard Jimmy Butler, who scored their first seven points of the game and posted 17 of his game-high 30 points at the half. Taj Gibson added 14, and Andrew Wiggins and Jeff Teague posted 12 apiece. Karl Anthony Towns contributed 7 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, only the sixth time this season he has been held without a double-double.
Next Game
The Grizzlies will hit the road as they take on the New York Knicks this Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. CT at Madison Square Garden. Tune in to FOX Sports Southeast presented by Pinnacle Financial Partners or listen on 92.9 FM ESPN for all the action.
Key Stats of the Night
- Memphis snapped an 11-game losing streak, its longest since a 12-game skid from January 6-31, 2009, and earned its first win since November 7 at Portland.
Key Run of the Night
- Neither team led by more than one possession in the final 8:41 of game time… Marc Gasol scored on a cutting dunk off a pass from Tyreke Evans with 3:25 remaining to give Memphis a three-point lead (93-90)… Jimmy Butler made a pair of free throws to cut the Grizzlies’ lead to one with 1:37 left, but Minnesota missed its final three shot attempts and committed what was just its ninth turnover of the game, as Memphis held on for its first win since November 7.
Team Quotes
Player Notes
- Marc Gasol led Memphis with 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists in 35 minutes… Gasol tallied his ninth 20-point game of the season.
- Tyreke Evans registered 16 points and nine assists one game after recording his second career game with at least 30 points and 10 assists (31 points and a season-high 12 assists on December 2 at Cleveland).
- Andrew Harrison had eight points (2-2 FG, 1-1 3P, 3-4 FT) off the bench… Harrison is shooting 13-of-22 from the field (.591) and 5-of-6 from three-point range (.833) in four games under Grizzlies interim head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
- Jimmy Butler led all scorers with 30 points (11-21 FG, 2-7 3P, 6-7 FT), including 17 in the first half… He recorded 33 points, his first career 30-point game with the Timberwolves, last night against the Los Angeles Clippers.
- Karl-Anthony Towns had seven points and a game-high 11 rebounds, only the sixth time this season he has been held without a double-double… Towns entered the game leading the NBA in double-doubles (19)… The only players in Timberwolves franchise history to lead the league in double-doubles over the course of a season are Kevin Love (twice) and Kevin Garnett (five times).