Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Memphis Grizzlies: Odds, injuries, what to watch for

The Minnesota Timberwolves are looking for their first three-game winning streak of the season as they wrap the homestand by taking on the Memphis Grizzlies.

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Memphis Grizzlies: Odds, injuries, what to watch for

The Wolves have won two straight, winning both ends of a home back-to-back on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. The Grizzlies have won two straight as well, defeating the Houston Rockets and the LA Clippers.

Memphis sits at 8-7 so far this season while the Wolves are 6-9. The two teams expected to be contending for a play-in spot when it’s all said and done in the rough-and-tumble Western Conference, but Ja Morant has led the Grizzlies to a superior mark than Karl-Anthony Towns has managed to do for the Wolves.

The two teams played in Memphis just under two weeks ago in a game that the Wolves led by double-digits multiple times, including early in the fourth quarter. Towns capped a wild final couple minutes of regulation with a 37-foot buzzer-beater to send the game to overtime, but Memphis dominated the extra session and came away with the win.

Minnesota Timberwolves odds vs. Memphis Grizzlies

The Wolves are favored by 2.5 points, according to WynnBet. Between home-court advantage and a couple of key injuries on the Grizzlies side, it isn’t a shocking line.

TV and streaming info for Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Memphis Grizzlies

• Tip-off: 7:00 CT
• Television: Bally Sports North
• Radio: 830 WCCO
• Stream: Fubo.tv offers streaming options

What to watch for in Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Memphis Grizzlies

For the most part, the Grizzlies go as Morant goes.

The last time these two teams met, Brandon Clarke came off the bench and had a huge second half, ultimately scoring 20 points on 11 shots and grabbing nine rebounds in 24 minutes.

De’Anthony Melton was the second-highest-scoring starter, putting up 19 points and making three of his six 3-point attempts. Melton will not play on Saturday in Minneapolis, however, due to a groin injury.

The Wolves struggled to control Morant’s downhill attacking the last time around. They’re not alone, of course, but they’ll need to improve their point of attack defense. It’s an area that has gotten better in recent games, but it’s easier said than done against Morant.

The Wolves didn’t have any problem scoring against Memphis last time around, putting up 113 points in regulation. The Grizzlies are No. 29 in defensive rating and have only held a team under 100 points once this season.

They’ve also had some strong luck in close games and are 2-0 thus far in contests decided by one possession.

The scariest thing for the Wolves is Memphis’ work on the glass; they’re No. 2 in offensive rebound rate and No. 7 on the defensive glass. The Wolves are the league’s worst defensive rebounding team, so keep an eye on second-chance points from the likes of Steven Adams and Clarke.

If Minnesota can continue the roll that their offense has been on for the last three halves of basketball, they should win this game. But if it devolves into what we saw in the first half against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday or on Monday against the Phoenix Suns, then they’ll have a tough time keeping up with the Grizzlies’ top-10 offense.

Injury report for Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Memphis Grizzlies

The Wolves are listing both Josh Okogie and Naz Reid as questionable. They each missed Wednesday’s game due to back and foot problems, respectively.

The Grizzlies are without Melton, and Dillon Brooks, who returned from an extended absence on Thursday, is listed as doubtful.

We’ll be back after the game with player grades. Here’s to 7-9!