Recap: Sounds Down Timberwolves
Final: Memphis- 109, Minnesota- 104
What it do, Grizz Nation? There’s basketball again! And there have been some changes, to put it mildly, in the makeup of this Grizzlies team.
In a chaotic flurry of activity before the NBA trade deadline, Courtney Lee was traded to the Hornets in a 3-team deal that netted Memphis Chris Andersen and PJ Hairston, and two 2nd round draft picks. If that wasn’t traumatic enough, the front office agreed on a deal that sent Jeff Green to the Clippers for Lance Stephenson and a 1st round draft pick, approximately 34 seconds before the trade deadline. Yes, I am still extremely salty about this.
But on to last night, the first game after the All-Star break. Due to injuries and the aforementioned trade moves, who we are coming out of the break is not at all who we were going into it, literally and figuratively. We got to witness the return of Brandan Wright, which was timely coming almost directly on the heels of Marc Gasol being sidelined indefinitely with a broken foot.
It was a new-look Memphis squad that held court for the first time last night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and early polling says whatever happens from here down the stretch, it will be anything but boring. It might be ugly, in fact it will almost certainly be ugly, but it won’t be boring.
By The Numbers:
Overall:
Points in the Paint: Timberwolves 30 (15/28), GRIZZLIES 54 (27/48)
Biggest Lead: Timberwolves 10, GRIZZLIES 7
2nd Chance Points: Timberwolves 13 (3/8), GRIZZLIES 16 (7/9)
Lead Changes: 19
Fast Break Points: Timberwolves 16 (6/8), GRIZZLIES 19 (8/11)
Times Tied: 9
Technical Fouls – Individual
Timberwolves: NONE
GRIZZLIES (1): Hairston 10:35 3rd
Technical Fouls – Defensive Three Second
Timberwolves (1): 1:19 1st
GRIZZLIES (1): 1:58 2nd
Grizzlies:
Matt Barnes- 11 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 assists
JaMychal Green- 9 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocks
Zach Randolph- 17 points, 8 rebounds
Tony Allen- 9 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
Mike Conley- 25 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals
Brandan Wright- 6 points, 2 rebounds
Vince Carter- 15 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals
Mario Chalmers- 10 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal
Chris Andersen- 4 points, 3 rebounds, 1 block
James Ennis- 1 point, 1 steal
PJ Hairston- 2 points
A Few Things:
They with us- This was the first game as Grizzlies/Sounds for new acquisitions PJ Hairston and Chris “Birdman” Andersen. We only got a brief look at them on the floor, with Hairston scoring 2 points in just over 7 minutes and Andersen scoring 4 in just over 11, but Birdman was a perfect 2/2 on field goals.
Brandan Wright still exists- Friday night saw the return of Wright, who has been inactive since November with a knee injury. He underwent knee surgery a few months back, and has been slowly recovering since then. With the loss of Marc Gasol to a broken foot, his return could not have been timelier.
Oh Captain, My Captain- Last night Mike Conley led the team in scoring, and arguably in other ways as well. This is what we need from him down the stretch, and judging from his recent comments, no one understands this better than Conley himself.
Season high 15 points for Vince Carter– Carter was responsible for 3 of the Grizzlies 7 made 3 pointers, including an amazing 73 foot lob to beat the buzzer at the end of the 3rd quarter. VINSANITY FOREVER!
The Grizzlies are in Toronto to face the Raptors on Sunday, although they may be doing it without the assistance of the Grindfather. Tony Allen headed to the locker room early Friday night after he suffered a knee injury, and is currently listed as questionable for Sunday.
Tony Allen Things!
. @aa000G9 w/ the steal and the slam! pic.twitter.com/7p9L7t8xSE
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) February 20, 2016
Doesn't bluff, stays grinding.
Bluff City Born and Memphis Made
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- Memphis Grizzlies 2019 Training Camp Roster - September 30, 2019
