Minnesota vs Memphis | Game 2 Picks & Predictions

The Memphis Grizzlies were playing as well as anyone in the final month-plus of the regular season but were stunned at home in Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series by Minnesota. Can the Wolves pull another stunner Tuesday? Oddsmakers favor the Grizzlies on the NBA odds.

How to Bet Timberwolves at Grizzlies NBA Odds & TV Info

When: Tuesday, 8:30 PM ET
Where: FedExForum
TV: NBA TV
Stream: NBA.com, NBA TV app
Radio: Tunein.com
NBA Odds: Grizzlies -7 (total 241)

Why Bet on Minnesota?

The Timberwolves shocked the Grizzlies 130-117 in Game 1 in Memphis. Anthony Edwards was the best player on the floor with 36 points and six assists. Edwards became the 4th youngest player in NBA history to score 30-points in a playoff game.

“I think it’s very important to play at my best because they hide me during the regular season as far as no national TV games,” Edwards said. “So, people don’t really get to see me play unless I have an enormous game where I score 40-something or hit a game-winning shot or I get a huge dunk. I feel like games like this, I have to take advantage of because it’s the only time I get to be on TV so I’m trying to showcase my talent and everything I can do.”

Edwards surpassed Stephon Marbury’s record of 28 points in his first career playoff game. He also became the third-youngest player in NBA history to post a 35-point outing in the playoffs. Only Magic Johnson (42), Tyler Herro (37), and now Edwards (36) have accomplished that before the age of 21.

The second-year wing seemed to come into his own down the stretch for Minnesota, and Edwards carried that momentum right into the play-in tournament and the postseason. Not counting the final game of the regular season, when the Timberwolves had nothing on the line and he played only 18 minutes, Edwards has scored at least 30 points in four of his last five games, averaging 33.2 points.

Karl-Anthony Towns shot an efficient 11-of-18 from the field for 29 points and 13 rebounds. Over his last 20 games, including the play-in win over the Clippers, Towns is averaging 24.3 points, 10.4 boards, 2.9 assists, 1.7 threes and 1.1 blocks while shooting 54.5 percent from the floor, trading a bit of usage for greater efficiency.

Guard Malik Beasley had 23 points and five rebounds in 30 minutes off the bench. It was the 25-year-old’s best scoring effort since he dropped 33 on the Thunder on March 9, and his highest point total off the bench since he struck for 26 against the Suns on Jan. 28. Beasley has been providing consistent offense lately, averaging 13.6 points in 26.3 minutes over the last seven games.

Jaden McDaniels had 15 points and seven rebounds. The second-year forward came through in his first career playoff game, posting his best scoring total off the bench since late February. McDaniels scored a total of 24 points in his prior four games.

Why Bet on Memphis?

Ja Morant played well in the Game 1 loss with 32 points on 8-of-18 shooting (16-of-20 FTs), four rebounds, eight assists, one steal, and three turnovers. Morant was very aggressive from the opening tip, and as a result, he shot 20 free throws, but it wasn’t enough. The Timberwolves did a great job of crowding Morant and making him take tough shots.

The All-Star played in only one of Memphis’ final 11 games while tending to a knee injury, but Morant looked healthy to begin the team’s postseason run. He and Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards became the first pair of opponents age 22 or younger to score 30 or more points in the same playoff game.

Memphis cut the lead to five points at 114-109 with 3:16 to play in the fourth quarter after a free throw from Morant. However, Minnesota quickly ended all hopes of a comeback victory, using 12-4 run over the next two minutes to push the lead back to 13, 126-113.

Dillon Brooks tallied 24 points on 3-for-4 shooting from 3-point range for the Grizzlies. Brandon Clarke notched a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 12 points and four rebounds while blocking a career high-tying seven shots, marking a new franchise playoff record. Jackson Jr. surpassed Marc Gasol’s six blocks against Oklahoma City on May 13, 2013.

The Timberwolves outrebounded the Grizzlies 46-35. The Grizzlies led the NBA in rebounding margin this season (franchise-record +6.2). That rebounding edge also led to a 19-14 Timberwolves advantage in second chance points. That’s another stat where the Grizzlies typically pace the league.

“Physicality is something that we felt like we addressed coming into the series, and I didn’t think that it was there tonight,” Desmond Bane said. “At least at the level it needed to be to win. We’re going to have to get grimy out there to win a playoff series.”

The Grizzlies looked flat, out of sync, and sloppy at times in Game 1. A big reason for that could be that the starters had only played 96 minutes together prior to the penultimate regular season game against New Orleans on April 9. Coach Taylor Jenkins opted to bench virtually all key contributors in the season finale against the Celtics.