National Basketball Association: Memphis 101 - Minnesota 93
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We're back with basketball from the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies visiting the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Grizz had lost their last 16 games on the road in what has been a terrible season for Marc Gasol and his gang. The Timberwolves have been struggling since losing Jimmy Butler to a knee injury and came in the seventh place in the West with little room for error in their quest to make the playoffs.
There's Gasol feeling himself up before tip off. And the warm touches seemed to work as Gasol gets it inside and goes off the glass to make it 18-14 Grizzlies. The big Spaniard then shows off his range as he knocks down one of his four threes this game. 48-42 Memphis in the second quarter. But early in the third, Taj Gibson gets it in the lane and throws down a two-handed jam to give the Wolves a one point lead. With the Grizzlies down by six, Gasol is left wide open at the top of the arc and he makes Minny pay. He would finish with 20 points. Jeff Teague drives in and gets the floater to fall for two of his game-high 25 points and it's 80-76 T-Pups.
Early in the fourth quarter and Wayne Selden hits an awkward shot while being fouled for a three point play that gets the Grizzlies within one. Minny now leading by two and Selden adds to their lead with a triple from the top. With six and a half minutes to play, Andrew Wiggins scoops up a loose ball and gets into the paint to make it 92-89 Memphis. With the Wolves needing a stop, they contain Gasol but he finds Selden who drains a three instead. He would have a team-high 23 points.
And the Grizzlies go on to win 101-93 for a rare road victory that deals a blow to Minnesota's playoff hopes.
In other games, Boston got 23 points from Jayson Tatum to beat Phoenix for thier fourth straight win, Kemba Walker had 31 in Charlotte's overtime victory over New York, Philadelphia's number one pick in the 2017 draft Markelle Fultz scored ten points in his first game since October as the Sixers won, and Detroit topped the Lakers.