Memphis Needs Home Win Before Hitting Road
The Minnesota Timberwolves go for a second straight upset win against the second-seeded Memphis Grizzlies in their Western Conference first-round playoff series on Tuesday night. Minnesota took Game 1 on Saturday to grab home-court advantage in the series from the favored Grizzlies. Memphis will try to even this series on Tuesday before the next two games are played in Minneapolis. This will be a fun game to bet online, but before you make your picks, take a look at our in-depth preview of Game 2.
Let’s check the latest NBA Picks, stats, injury reports, and NBA Odds for Timberwolves vs Grizzlies. We’ve plenty of NBA Playoffs Odds for you to consider.
Edwards Impressive In Timberwolves’ Game 1 Win
The list that Anthony Edwards joined on Saturday is quite impressive. Scoring 36 points in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Game 1 victory, Edwards joined Derrick Rose, Tyler Herro, and Magic Johnson as players scoring at least 35 points in a playoff game before turning 21, and it was in Edwards’ first-ever postseason contest.
“Putting on another show,” Edwards said after Saturday’s win. “That’s it. Putting on another show and impact winning.”
Edwards had a big impact, hitting 12-of-23 shots from the floor, including 4-of-11 from 3-point range, while dishing out six assists and making two blocks in the win. The 20-year-old averaged 21.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in the regular season, including a 49-point performance against the San Antonio Spurs on April 7, and he has scored at least 30 points in four of his last five games.
Center Karl-Anthony Towns also had a big game in the opener, finishing with 29 points and 13 rebounds. The Timberwolves started fast with 41 points in the first quarter and were able to pull away for the victory in the fourth.
Guard Malik Beasley had a major impact off the bench for Minnesota, hitting four 3-pointers and finishing with 23 points. In all, six different players scored in double figures for the Timberwolves, who shot 50% from the field in the win.
Grizzlies Look For Better Performance In Game 2
The Memphis Grizzlies haven’t been in a favorite position for a while now, and it didn’t suit them well in Game 1. The second seed in the Western Conference could not slow down the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first game of the series, however, there is plenty more basketball to be played.
Guard Ja Morant was aggressive offensively, scoring 32 points and dishing out eight assists while going to the free-throw line 20 times, but, he may have been a little too aggressive trying to match the intensity and trash talk of the Timberwolves.
Forward Dillon Brooks is another player who can get wrapped up in the emotions of the game at times. He finished with 24 points but had trouble with fouls, finishing with five as he was physically aggressive on the defensive end.
The big men of the Grizzlies need to have a bigger presence in the paint. Forward Jaren Jackson Jr. did finish with seven blocks, but he and center Steven Adams combined for just seven rebounds in the loss. Adams played 24 minutes without taking a single shot.
Timberwolves vs Grizzlies Head-to-Head
The Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies split their four matchups this season, with the home team winning each time. Memphis had been on a seven-game winning streak against the Timberwolves when Minnesota won in a rout in the second meeting of the campaign.
These two teams have never met in the postseason, with Minnesota playing in just its second playoff series since 2004. Memphis is considered a top contender for the Western Conference title, and the NBA lines are giving it a significant edge in Game 2 of this series.
Timberwolves vs Grizzlies Game Information
- Game: Timberwolves (1-0) vs Grizzlies (0-1)
- Location: FedExForum
- Day/Time: Tuesday, April 19th. 8:30 p.m. ET
- Timberwolves vs Grizzlies Live Stream: NBA Game Pass
Timberwolves vs Grizzlies Betting Lines
Timberwolves vs Grizzlies Prediction
The Memphis Grizzlies know what it means for a favorite to be down 1-0 in a series, having shocked the top-seeded Utah Jazz in last season’s playoffs before losing four straight. The Minnesota Timberwolves are playing with confidence, and they have the Grizzlies’ attention now. We should see a better effort from the home team in game 2.
When doing your NBA betting, take Memphis to win and cover at home.
