Memphis Grizzlies (-2.5) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Game #4 Western Conference Playoffs on 92.9 FM ESPN. Saturday at 9:00 p.m. (CST)/Pregame at 8:30 p.m.
· The No. 2 seed Grizzlies lead the No. 7 Timberwolves 2-1 in their best-of-seven first round series after Memphis completed a 26-point comeback to win Game 3 at the Target Center… It marked the largest playoff comeback win in franchise history and tied the third-largest comeback win from any NBA team in the last 25 postseasons.
· Down by 25 points with 3:10 remaining in the third quarter, Memphis outscored Minnesota 50-16 to close out Game 3, including a 37-12 margin in the fourth quarter… The Grizzlies held the Timberwolves to 3-19 shooting (.158), outrebounded them 19-5, and scored 17 second chance points off five offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter.
· As part of this comeback, the Grizzlies went on a 21-0 run to tie the game at 83 with 8:33 remaining… Memphis also had a 15-0 run in the first half… According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Grizzlies are the third team over the last 25 seasons with multiple 15-0 runs in the same playoff game and the first since 2010.
· Desmond Bane scored 26 points, including a franchise playoff record seven 3-pointers, in Game 3, while Ja Morant (16 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) became the first Grizzlies player ever to post a triple-double in a playoff game.
· Minnesota, the NBA’s highest-scoring team during the regular season (115.9), has been held under 100 points in consecutive games for the first time since Oct. 30-Nov. 1… The Timberwolves scored under 100 points just once in their previous 46 games (including regular season, play-in and playoff games).
· This marks the first time the Grizzlies have led a postseason series 2-1 since the 2015 Western Conference Semifinals… Memphis is looking to win both Games 3 and 4 of a playoff series, while playing those games on the road, for the first time in franchise history.
Connections
Grizzlies guard Tyus Jones appeared in 247 games (34 starts) over his first four NBA seasons with the Timberwolves and averaged 5.1 points, 1.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 17.7 minutes.Grizzlies guard Jarrett Culver was drafted sixth overall by Minnesota in the 2019 NBA Draft and averaged 7.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 97 games (42 starts) from 2019-21.Grizzlies Vice President of Basketball Affairs Tayshaun Prince, Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns and Timberwolves forward Jarred Vanderbilt played collegiately at the University of Kentucky… Prince appeared in 77 games (44 starts) for the Timberwolves and averaged 2.9 points and 1.9 rebounds in 19.0 minutes during the 2015-16 season, his final NBA season.Grizzlies equipment manager Cory McCain served two seasons (2019-21) as the Timberwolves’ assistant equipment manager.Timberwolves assistant coach Elston Turner served with the Grizzlies in the same capacity from 2013-16.Timberwolves player development coach Kevin Burleson spent the 2018-19 season with the Grizzlies in the same role.
