Last night the Grizzlies ended up losing 117-110 on the road to the Minnesota Timberwolves, largely due to an Anthony Edwards masterclass. One of the downsides of the loss was that the Grizzlies were unable to secure a season series win against the Timberwolves and had to settle for a split. Still, the effort was great from the Grizzlies, and there are some positives.
The Grizzlies are in an odd spot, because it is insanely disappointing to be losing, especially after how promising the team looked a few years ago. Losing is tough, and nights like yesterday are unfortunate given the effort from the players. On the flip side, the Grizzlies have a prime opportunity to significantly increase the talent level on the roster with how loaded the 2026 NBA Draft is.
Grizzlies got the best of both worlds
The message should not be to lose every game for the rest of the season on purpose. Players are fighting for roster spots and still trying to put on their best individual performances possible. However, given how difficult the Grizzlies' schedule is and the injuries they have continued to battle, the best outcome for the Grizzlies will be to simultaneously develop their young talent and secure the best draft picks possible for what could be a legendary 2026 NBA Draft.
The Grizzlies jumped out to a double-digit lead in the first half but were not able to close out the game. They were let down mainly by live ball turnovers, and their perimeter shooting cooled off compared to the first half. However, it was really encouraging to see the Grizzlies still battle to the end even with the game out of reach.
Last night's game went great for the Grizzlies as they showed some solid flashes of basketball against a very talented team like the Timberwolves. At the same time, they did not hurt their draft positioning.
There were some promising signs despite the loss
Minnesota was up by 17 points with 3:41 left, but the Grizzlies managed to cut their lead down to four inside the last minute. Even though it was too late for the Grizzlies, it was great to see the team not quit, and Cedric Coward had a very strong finish to his first game back from injury. Walter Clayton Jr.'s feel for the offense has significantly improved the last few games despite his shots not falling.
Rayan Rupert has given the Grizzlies a greater impact than expected on his current 10-day contract, and GG Jackson II had a great rebounding game despite struggling with turnovers. Jaylen Wells is also looking much more comfortable on offense since the trade deadline. Despite being undermanned, there have been continued signs of young players getting better.
It is also important to consider that the Grizzlies are pretty much missing their entire frontcourt currently. Santi Aldama was on track to return from his right knee injury but ended up being a late scratch. With a tough remaining schedule and a current lack of frontcourt options, the Grizzlies are likely to lose 50+ games by the end of the season.
The Grizzlies have one of the toughest remaining schedules in the entire NBA and will likely have a bad record by the end of the season. However, the early signs point to the Grizzlies' rebuild being shorter than many expect.