The Minnesota Timberwolves found themselves trapped in a painful cycle of déjà vu on Monday afternoon. In a near-identical ending to their last clash with the Memphis Grizzlies, the Wolves squandered a late lead and faltered in clutch moments, falling 108-106 at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn.
Anthony Edwards, who carried the Wolves with a game-high 32 points, had a chance to be the hero. With 5.0 seconds left, Julius Randle inbounded the ball to Edwards, who launched a contested three-pointer from the wing with Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. closing in. The shot fell woefully short, mirroring his missed game-winner in their prior matchup.
“It’s frustrating,” Edwards said postgame. “We had the game in our hands, but mistakes killed us.”
Clutch collapse erases strong start
Minnesota (22-21) entered the fourth quarter with a five-point advantage but unraveled when it mattered most. An 11-0 Grizzlies run in crunch time proved decisive. The sequence began with a critical foul on Bane, who sank two free throws to tie the game at 100-100. Immediately after a timeout, Naz Reid was whistled for traveling, sparking a series of blunders.
Rudy Gobert blocked Bane’s layup, but the Wolves failed to secure the rebound, allowing Jackson to grab it, draw a foul, and sink two more from the stripe. Moments later, Gobert turned the ball over after Minnesota grabbed an offensive rebound off a missed Mike Conley three-pointer. Ja Morant capitalized in transition with two more free throws, stretching Memphis’ lead to 106-100.
Reid briefly gave the Wolves hope by draining a three, but Minnesota’s earlier miscues were too much to overcome.
Missed opportunity despite solid performances
The Wolves’ loss overshadowed standout contributions from several players. Reid exploded off the bench with 29 points and eight rebounds, providing a much-needed spark. Jaden McDaniels recorded his third career double-double, tallying 11 points and 12 rebounds. Rob Dillingham impressed in extended minutes, scoring 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including 3-for-4 from beyond the arc.
Despite the individual efforts, Minnesota’s strong first half, where they held Memphis to a season-low 43 points, unraveled in the final two quarters. The Grizzlies (28-15) dominated the offensive glass in the second half, grabbing seven key boards to erase an 11-point deficit. Jackson led Memphis with 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Bane chipped in 22 points, six rebounds, and five assists.
Crunch-time woes persist
This latest loss highlights a troubling trend for the Timberwolves: a failure to execute in clutch situations. Head coach Chris Finch acknowledged the recurring issue. “We’ve got to clean up our decision-making in the final minutes. Too many turnovers, too many second chances for them.”
What’s next for Minnesota?
The Wolves remain in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race but must address their late-game struggles if they hope to climb the standings. With injuries to key players like Donte DiVincenzo leaving the rotation thin, the team will need to find consistency and composure as the season progresses.
Minnesota’s next chance to bounce back comes Wednesday night against the Sacramento Kings. Whether they can avoid another heartbreak remains to be seen.
