The Memphis Grizzlies headed into Monday nights match up against the Minnesota Timberwolves looking to snap an 11-game losing streak and an eight-game losing streak at home.
First Quarter:
The Grizzlies started hot on both ends, leading to a 6-0 run. At the 7:30 mark in the first quarter, the Grizzlies trailed 11-10. The Grizzlies then trailed 22-19 with 2:52 remaining in the first quarter. Memphis rotational players struggled with the beast that is Jimmy Butler, who had a quick 12 points in nine minutes of play.
Looking ahead, although Andrew Harrison had two fouls, he’s the best perimeter defender — outside of Dillon Brooks. The Grizzlies finished the first quarter on a 10-4 run. Finishing quarters has been a struggle with this team throughout this very long 11-game losing streak.
Second Quarter:
Memphis started the second quarter just like they finished the first quarter. The Grizzlies were flying up and down the court, showing a lot of hustle and moving the ball well.
Harrison and James Ennis have been excellent coming off the bench for this team. They had a great second quarter maintaining the three point lead they had after the first quarter. Memphis led 56-53 after two quarters and shot 52.5 percent from the field. 40 percent from deep in four attempts is not too bad either.
Third Quarter:
The third quarter as a whole wasn’t horrible, as the team built a seven-point lead. However, after blowing that big lead towards the end of the third, the Grizzlies fought back, finally.
Memphis worked with substitutions that were limited to Tyreke Evans and Marc Gasol being on the floor at all times. While doing so, the others around them took time to adjust, but it always ended with a really big run.
The Grizzlies led after the third quarter, 76-75.
Fourth Quarter:
A full court alley-oop from JaMychal Green to Ennis started the final quarter run for the Grizzlies. Evans and Gasol had to be the leaders to get this team over the hump against the Timberwolves. It came down to the Grizzlies trying to get over the hump with 1:15 remaining up by one. Evans drained two free throws to go up by three, and the 11-game losing streak came to a halt as the Grizzlies defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves
Marc Gasol postgame: "F it" pic.twitter.com/hwZCtfxW5Y
— Brendan Smart (@bsmart21) December 5, 2017
Marc Gasol was all of us in this moment. Of course, some of us would have used better language, but when you’ve fired a head coach and lost 11 straight.
“Best regular season win of my career!” Marc Gasol said during postgame. “We are just getting started, it’s time to build on this. After all of the heart we’ve put into these games, it was good to get this one.”
Next: 5 takeaways from 1st quarter of the season
Memphis will head to Big Apple for a match up against the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night.