Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 up, 2 down from dominant win over shorthanded Grizzlies
The Minnesota Timberwolves(12-4) came into FedEx Forum Sunday looking to get back on track after a tough loss against the Sacramento Kings the previous Friday. The home team, Memphis Grizzlies (3-13), have been searching for answers all season after losing key players to injury (Steven Adams, Marcus Smart, Brandon Clarke, Luke Kennard) and Suspension (Star Player Ja Morant can not play the first 25 games of the season), and had a 0-7 record at home coming into this contest.
The game went about as expected, with Minnesota's sheer star power overwhelming the limited Grizzlies in a game where the home team never led. This was also a fantastic game for all-time Grizzlies scorer Mike Conley, who was a threat from three and dishing dimes all game against his former team.
Here are three Wolves who rose their stock with this game, and two who's dropped:
Three Up
1. Mike Conley- PG: eighteen points, ten assists, four rebounds, 66% three-point shooting
"Minnesota Mike," or "Bite BIte" if you're Anthony Edwards, had perhaps his best game this season, providing his own offense as well as dishing when needed to his own teammates with a whopping ten assists in a double-double performance. Conley's forty-three percent shooting from three on the season is starting to seem sustainable, as well as his ever-growing connection with Rudy Gobert, as you can usually find the two hooking up for around two to three lobs per game.
2. Nickeil Alexander-Walker- SG: nine points, three assists, one steal
In the starting lineup for a majority of this young NBA season due to Jaden McDaniels injury problems, "NAW" has proven to be a valuable piece of the rotation this season, often tasked with guarding the opposing team's best perimeter players. While the offensive output has not been outstanding, his contribution on defense this game was superb, notably holding Grizzlies' star Desmond Bane to only five makes on sixteen attempts.
3. Troy Brown Jr.- SF: six points, four rebounds, one assist
After starting the season on the bench, the Wolves have been able to give Brown some run recently and have been producing results as a solid three-and-D guy. Notably, the four rebounds in only eighteen minutes from tonight show his hustle and willingness to play his role when he could have instead been frustrated with not getting run earlier in the season. The selfishness and smart play from Brown could pay dividends for both himself and the Timberwolves as the season progresses.