Game Preview #38 – Timberwolves vs. Grizzlies

Minnesota enters Saturday’s battle with the Grizzlies riding a three-game winning streak. It will take a strong defensive team effort from the Wolves to derail Memphis, who leads the NBA in scoring.

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Date: January 11th, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM CST
Location: Target Center
Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network North
Radio Coverage: Wolves App/iHeart Radio

Wolves vs. Grizzlies: A Defining Moment for Minnesota’s Rollercoaster Season

If you’re a Timberwolves fan, your heart probably needs a break, but the NBA schedule is merciless. The Wolves are riding high on a three-game winning streak after dispatching the Clippers, Pelicans, and Magic, but this season’s story has been a bizarre mix of peaks and valleys. Win three, lose three. Win three, lose three. Lather, rinse, repeat. Now, as the Memphis Grizzlies roll into Target Center, Minnesota faces the ultimate test: Can they finally break the trend and build some real momentum?

Saturday night’s matchup isn’t just another regular-season game. This one has stakes—big ones. The Wolves sit in the seventh seed, only three-and-a-half games behind the Grizzlies for the third seed in the Western Conference. With two games against Memphis in the next nine days and other Western teams guaranteed to lose head-to-head matchups, this is the moment for Minnesota to make a move.

The table is set. Now it’s up to the Wolves to bring the feast.

The Grizzlies: An Offensive Juggernaut

Let’s start with the obvious: Memphis can score. The Grizzlies lead the NBA in scoring at a blistering 122.9 points per game. Whether it’s Ja Morant slicing through defenses, Desmond Bane raining threes, or Jaren Jackson Jr. dominating the paint, this team is a nightmare to guard. Oh, and rookie Zach Edey has emerged as a rebounding machine and low-post enforcer.

But Memphis isn’t invincible. They’ve dropped four of their last six games, including losses to Western contenders like the Thunder and Rockets. Part of that is the absence of Ja, but let’s not forget their cupcake schedule through November and December. The Grizzlies are finally facing real competition, and the cracks are starting to show.

Ja is back, but Marcus Smart remains sidelined. That’s a big hit for their defense, and it’s something the Wolves can exploit if they play their cards right.

The Keys to Victory

1. Score Early, Score Often

The Wolves’ offense is…let’s call it streaky. When they’re clicking, it’s beautiful: the ball moves, the floor is spaced, and shots are falling. But when they’re not? It’s a horror show. Long scoring droughts have haunted this team all season, and against Memphis, a five-minute dry spell might as well be a death sentence.

Chris Finch needs to find lineups that keep the offense humming. Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle have to lead the way, but it’s equally important for role players like Donte DiVincenzo, NAW, and Naz Reid to knock down open shots. Finch’s recent lineup tweaks—like starting DiVincenzo over Mike Conley—have paid off, but this game will test whether those adjustments can hold up against an elite team.

2. Defense, Defense, Defense

If Memphis wants to turn this game into a track meet, the Wolves need to slam on the brakes. Minnesota ranks fourth in the league in points allowed, and this is the perfect moment to lean into that defensive identity.

Ja Morant will be the focal point, and containing him is easier said than done. This is where Jaden McDaniels, Anthony Edwards, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker come in. They need to swarm Ja, deny him the paint, and force him into tough shots.

Down low, Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, and Naz Reid have their hands full with Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey. The Wolves have the size to match Memphis, but they need to be disciplined. Limit second-chance opportunities, control the boards, and don’t give up easy buckets.

3. Take Care of the Ball

Turnovers have been a quiet killer for the Wolves this season. Memphis thrives on transition opportunities, and if the Wolves are careless with the ball, the Grizzlies will make them pay. Mike Conley’s steady hand will be critical here, especially during crunch time.

4. Win the Ant vs. Ja Battle

This game has box-office appeal because of two players: Anthony Edwards and Ja Morant. Ja’s explosive scoring and playmaking make him one of the league’s most exciting talents, but Ant has been on an absolute heater lately.

Over his last four games, Edwards has averaged 35.8 points, including a 53-point explosion against Detroit. The Wolves need another superstar performance from Ant—not just as a scorer but as a leader. If Edwards can outduel Ja, the Wolves’ chances of winning skyrocket.

What’s at Stake

This isn’t just about one game. This is about sending a message—to the rest of the league, to the fans, and maybe even to themselves. The Wolves have spent the first half of the season bouncing between flashes of brilliance and maddening inconsistency. Saturday night is a chance to prove they can hang with the best teams in the West.

A win against Memphis doesn’t just help in the standings; it sets the tone for the next month. With games against the Warriors, Knicks, and Cavs looming, the Wolves need to take advantage of this golden opportunity to string together a meaningful winning streak.

The Final Word

In many ways, this feels like a crossroads for the Timberwolves. They’ve shown they can compete with the NBA’s elite. They’ve also shown they can lose to anyone. If this team wants to be taken seriously in the West, it starts with protecting home court against Memphis.

The good news? Anthony Edwards looks like a man on a mission. The lineup tweaks are working. The defense is still top-tier. The pieces are there; now it’s about putting it all together for 48 minutes.

The bad news? The Grizzlies aren’t going to roll over. They’ve got firepower, they’ve got size, and they’ve got Ja Morant back in the fold.

This is going to be a battle. And for the Wolves, it might just be the most important one of the season so far. Let’s see if they’re up to the challenge.