Timberwolves' Offense Falls Flat in Loss to Shorthanded Grizzlies
The Minnesota Timberwolves have had a strange rhythm to their season - a mix of dominant stretches and head-scratching lapses - and Wednesday night’s 116-110 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies was a little bit of both.
On paper, this was a matchup the Wolves should’ve handled. Memphis came in severely depleted, missing a full rotation’s worth of players - including Ja Morant, Zach Edey, Ty Jerome, Cam Spencer, GG Jackson, John Konchar, Scotty Pippen Jr., and Javon Small.
Meanwhile, Minnesota was without Anthony Edwards (right foot injury maintenance) and Mike Conley (right Achilles tendinopathy) for the third straight game, but still had the healthier roster by far. Edwards’ absence isn’t expected to be long-term, and there’s optimism he’ll return Friday.
Despite missing their star guard, the Grizzlies have been surprisingly competitive without Morant this season, posting a 7-5 record in games he’s missed - notably better than their 5-9 mark with him on the floor. And once again, they showed they’re more than capable of grinding out a win.
First Half: Ball Movement and Offense Clicking
The Timberwolves came out with the kind of offensive flow that’s become a hallmark during this stretch without Edwards. Minnesota had 19 assists on 25 made field goals in the first half - a stat that speaks to the unselfishness and execution they’ve leaned on in Ant’s absence. The ball was popping, the spacing was sharp, and the decision-making was crisp.
But defensively, they couldn’t quite create the separation they needed. Memphis attacked the paint relentlessly, racking up 36 points inside in the first half alone. Even with the Wolves shooting well and moving the ball, they led by just one at the break.
Second Half Collapse: Offense Comes to a Screeching Halt
Minnesota came out of the locker room hot, riding a 14-6 run to open the third quarter. Jaden McDaniels capped it off with a highlight finish that gave the Wolves their largest lead of the game - nine points - and seemed to set the tone for a strong finish.
Then the wheels came off.
Memphis punched back with a 14-0 run of their own, and the Wolves simply couldn’t find a response. Over a brutal four-minute stretch, Minnesota missed seven straight shots, bricked a pair of free throws, and turned the ball over twice. The offense, which had looked so fluid in the first half, suddenly turned stagnant and rushed.
From that point on, the Wolves never regained control. The second half was, statistically, their worst offensive half of the season.
They hit just 7 of their final 37 shot attempts - a dismal 18.9% - and went ice-cold from deep, connecting on just 1 of 18 from three in the second half. The ball movement that had defined their early success disappeared, with only eight second-half assists.
Head coach Chris Finch didn’t sugarcoat it afterward.
“A horrendous night offensively,” Finch said. “From shot selection to turnovers to execution, it was just not very good.”
The numbers back him up. Minnesota shot 39-of-98 from the field (39.8%), 13-of-44 from three (29.5%), and 19-of-27 from the line (70.4%). It wasn’t just one area - it was a total offensive breakdown.
Memphis Closes It Out Behind Landale and Jackson Jr.
Despite the offensive struggles, the Wolves were still within striking distance late in the game. But that’s when Jock Landale stepped up and delivered the dagger. The big man knocked down four second-half threes - including three in the fourth quarter - exploiting Minnesota’s inability to contain Memphis’ pick-and-pop actions.
Jaren Jackson Jr. also had a monster night, leading the Grizzlies with 28 points on 10-of-18 shooting and pulling down 12 rebounds. He was a force on both ends and gave Julius Randle all he could handle. Randle finished with 21 points but needed 21 shots to get there, and he took ownership postgame for the team’s lack of offensive rhythm.
“I think a big thing for me is next-action basketball,” Randle said. “Just getting into our actions and stuff like that.
I felt like there wasn’t as much movement on my part, on everybody’s part. I gotta be better, and I will be.”
Donte DiVincenzo echoed that sentiment, pointing to a lack of decisiveness on kick-outs and second drives. The Wolves had moments where the offense clicked, but it never sustained over four quarters - and that’s what cost them.
Accountability, Not Excuses
To their credit, no one in the Wolves locker room was looking for excuses. Not the shooting percentage.
Not the injuries. Finch and his players pointed the finger inward, acknowledging that their execution simply wasn’t good enough.
In the two games prior - both wins without Edwards - Minnesota leaned on sharp ball movement and team-oriented offense. But in this third game without him, the limitations without their star scorer were exposed.
Next Up: A Big Test in OKC
Things don’t get easier from here. The Timberwolves now turn their attention to the Oklahoma City Thunder, one of the league’s hottest teams. OKC is coming off just their second loss of the season in the NBA Cup Semifinals and will be on the second night of a back-to-back after facing the Clippers.
Minnesota will need a bounce-back performance - and potentially the return of Anthony Edwards - to keep pace in the Western Conference race. Because while this loss to a depleted Memphis squad won’t define their season, it was a reminder that in this league, effort and execution matter more than the injury report.