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Minnesota Timberwolves lose thriller to Grizzlies after late-game execution issues
Timberwolves Fall Short Against Grizzlies: Breaking Down Crunchtime
The Minnesota Timberwolves suffered a heartbreaking 127-125 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night after leading by six points with just five minutes left to play.
The game was tight throughout, with the Wolves up by a point at halftime and four going into the fourth quarter, and with just a few minutes remaining, it still felt like a game that Minnesota would ultimately win, but late-game execution once again came back to bite the Wolves.
What Happened on the Timberwolves’ Final Possession?
With 18 seconds remaining and the Wolves down by two, head coach Chris Finch called a sideline out-of-bounds play designed to get Edwards the ball on the right wing. He missed a potential go-ahead 3-point attempt, but Donte DiVincenzo corralled the rebound and the Wolves maintained possession after the Grizzlies touched the ball while standing out of bounds.
After another Wolves timeout, Finch called a baseline out-of-bounds play that featured Anthony Edwards as the triggerman. Unfortunately, Julius Randle was pushed out further on the catch and there was a slight mishandle. Edwards opted to abort the play, which called for Mike Conley to come off a Rudy Gobert screen and spot up in the corner. Instead, Antr came to get a hand-off from Randle and ended up taking a contested three-pointer that missed the mark.
While it’s easy to question the play call or Edwards’ decision-making, the loss can’t be attributed to a single moment. The Wolves struggled with turnovers and allowed the Grizzlies to dominate the offensive glass, giving up 21 offensive rebounds, leading to an extra 25 shot attempts on the night.
Despite the loss, there were certainly bright spots. DiVincenzo had an outstanding performance with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists. McDaniels also shone with 21 points on efficient shooting, and Randle put up a line of 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Wolves-Grizzlies matchup, tune into the Locked On Wolves podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Wolves Podcast:
• Individual player performances and standout moments
• Analysis of coaching decisions and rotations
• Preview of upcoming game against the Washington Wizards
Monday movers: Isaiah Collier and the resilient Pistons
Jan 12, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (13) lays the ball up against the Brooklyn Nets during the fourth quarter at Delta Center. | Rob Gray/Rob Gray-Imagn Images
Isaiah Collier
If you thought tracking incremental improvements was just for teams, think again. Jazz rookie Isaiah Collier had himself a game on Sunday, with a career-high 23 points, seven rebounds and assists, plus a block, in 37 minutes on the floor. It was Collier’s longest sustained playing time this season.
I covered Collier over his McDonald’s All-American weekend in April 2023. As a USC signee he was in the shadow of Bronny James, also in the same “McDAAG” class. Collier was quiet, polite, and a little shy off the floor, on the floor, all those traits inverted. When I’ve circled around to check on how Collier’s been doing this season I haven’t been surprised to see him taking a secondary role. Sometimes the best thing for a rookie is to have a working balance between competitive pressure and developing at their own pace. What I have been surprised by is how much Collier, up to now, has been flying under the radar.
He had a sixth-sense for the game in high school, in his knack for passing, knowing where teammates would be, and dictating the pace of the game — a rarer thing for a young athlete. It showed it again in his single season at USC. The Jazz don’t necessarily want Collier to be the one deploying these things, they have Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson, and Keyonte George as a backup for them, but when Collier’s been trusted by the team to handle the ball it’s paid dividends.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Preview The Timberwolves face off against the Wizards, with an exciting matchup featuring Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo. Catch the game and stay updated on starting times and TV schedule. (Canis Hoopus)
Injury Rob Dillingham has been cleared for 5-on-5 contact and is assigned to Iowa for rehab. This marks a crucial step in his recovery process. (Sports Illustrated)
Analysis Since entering the starting lineup, Donte DiVincenzo has been thriving for the Timberwolves, showcasing his skills and contributing significantly to the team’s performance. (Sports Illustrated)
Trade Every NBA team, including the Timberwolves, should consider proposing a strategic trade to strengthen their roster ahead of the trade deadline. (Bleacher Report)
Preview The Timberwolves will go head-to-head with the Wizards at Capitol One Arena at 8:00 PM ET. Read the preview.(NBA)
Watch Roundball Rock is (almost) back. Giannis, Jayson Tatum, and Wemby star in NBC’s NBA promo. (NBC Sports)
Analysis Amid struggles, what’s the end game for the Suns? (NBA.com)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Waiver Wire Wisdom: Navigating Fantasy Basketball’s Ever-Changing Landscape
Jan 12, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Noah Clowney (21) passes the ball away from Utah Jazz forward Cody Williams (5) during the first quarter at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images | Rob Gray/Rob Gray-Imagn Images
As we dive into Week 13 of the NBA season, it’s crucial to approach your fantasy basketball strategy with a keen eye on both the present and the future. The key is to play for the short term while keeping long-term potential in mind.
Donovan Clingan is an interesting addition. With Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams out, Clingan started and showed promise. However, his value may be limited when Ayton returns. This could be an opportunity to sell high on Clingan if you believe his current performance isn’t sustainable.
Noah Clowney and Nikola Jovic are two players with more long-term value. Clowney’s minutes may fluctuate, but he’s worth rostering for potential future gains. Jovic, despite coming off the bench, has shown promise and could see consistent minutes moving forward.
Click the button below to see which under-rostered players need to find their way onto your team.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Wolves podcasts.
Timberwolves survive flat performance over depleted Hawks behind the bigs: Randle, Rudy, and Naz The Minnesota Timberwolves barely eked out a win over an Atlanta Hawks team missing multiple starters, including Trae Young. Despite an overall flat performance, Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid, and Julius Randle did enough to will the Wolves to victory.
Minnesota Timberwolves offense has been GREAT lately + impressive win over Nuggets The Minnesota Timberwolves offense has been legitimately great since the start of January. Ben Beecken (@bbeecken) breaks down what’s been most impressive, including the caliber of defenses that they’ve done it against. Also, discussing a dominant win over the Denver Nuggets.
Evaluating the Timberwolves rotation post-DiVincenzo injury + early NBA Trade Deadline preview Ben Beecken (@bbeecken) is joined by Andrew Dukowitz (@dukeMN) to discuss the Minnesota Timberwolves’ rotation since the Donte DiVincenzo injury, including how long DiVincenzo might be out, plus, an early trade deadline preview.
