Desmond Bane #22 of the Memphis Grizzlies reacts after making a basket during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on January 09, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images/AFP
Desmond Bane scored 21 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 20 points and five blocks to lift the surging Memphis Grizzlies to a 116-108 victory over the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday.
John Konchar collected 15 points and 17 rebounds and Brandon Clarke added 14 and eight as the Grizzlies extended their franchise-best winning streak to 11 games. Memphis, which has won 21 of its last 25 games, also avenged a 138-95 shellacking at the hands of Minnesota on Nov. 20.
Ja Morant recorded 16 points, nine assists and eight rebounds despite nursing an apparent back injury. He left the contest after committing his third foul late in the second quarter, but he returned to start the third.
Ja & JJJ filled the stat sheet as the @memgrizz won their 11th straight game!@JaMorant: 16 PTS, 8 REB, 9 AST@jarenjacksonjr: 20 PTS, 5 REB, 5 BLK pic.twitter.com/d8jAOFwmJR
— NBA (@NBA) January 14, 2022
Anthony Edwards scored 30 points and D’Angelo Russell made six 3-pointers to highlight his 29-point performance for the Timberwolves, who have dropped two in a row.
Edwards picked up where he left off after scoring 20 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter of Minnesota’s 128-125 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday. He made five 3-pointers and all seven of his free throws on Thursday.
Karl-Anthony Towns added 25 points and nine rebounds for the Timberwolves.
🐻 11 Straight Wins🐻#GrindCity @memgrizz pic.twitter.com/HhqxvIOIS4
— NBA (@NBA) January 14, 2022
Clarke made a pair of free throws and Bane followed with a bucket to stake Memphis to a 109-106 lead with 1:32 remaining in the fourth quarter. Konchar doubled the advantage with a 3-pointer on the Grizzlies’ next possession before Bane sealed the win at the free-throw line.
Jackson drained a 3-pointer to stake Memphis to a 98-90 lead before Minnesota responded in short order. Russell sank a jumper before joining Towns in converting from beyond the arc to forge a tie.
Memphis overcame a seven-point deficit at halftime by erupting for 37 points in the third quarter to secure a 90-84 lead.
In the first quarter, Russell bolted out of the blocks by making a layup, a long jumper and a 3-pointer to stake Minnesota to a quick 10-2 lead. Russell converted from beyond the arc to push the Timberwolves’ advantage to 31-22 before Konchar answered with a 3-pointer of his own.