Memphis Apr 17 (U.S.): Anthony Edwards was delighted to win the first playoff of his career.
Now, he and the rest of the Minnesota Timberwolves want more, the Associated Press reports.
Edwards scored 36 points in his first post-season appearance, and the seventh-seeded Timberwolves stunned the No. 2 Memphis Grizzlies 130-117 on Saturday to reclaim the home court advantage in the opening game of the first round of the Western Conference series.
“That’s it. Submit another bid and win impact,” Edwards said, “By submitting another bid,” the overall best pick in the 2020 draft.
All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns added 29 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Malik Beasley scored 23 points and Jaden McDaniels 15. Patrick Beverly and D’Angelo Russell each scored 10 points.
The Timberwolves, by defeating the Los Angeles Clippers in a playoff game, won their first opener since 2004. That’s when they beat Denver in the first round on their way to the Western Conference Finals.
Townes said it was a good feeling to walk with a confidence building win.
“We did a lot of the little things we needed to win,” Townes said. “We should be very proud of our performance.”
Game two Tuesday night in Memphis.
Ja Morant led Memphis with 32 points and eight assists, and Dillon Brooks added 24 points. Brandon Clark scored 13 points and 12 rebounds from the bench. Desmond scored between 17 points and Garen Jackson Jr. scored 12 points.
“I feel like most things were on us,” Morant said. “That’s why we lost.”
Memphis tied the franchise record by winning 56 regular season games and earning the highest rating ever. The Grizzlies had the adventurous FedExForum for the third time only in their first game in Memphis. But they struggled early after a week of rest and advanced only twice, late in the middle of the second quarter.
“We did our best to stay fit, but it’s been a minute since we played,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said. “But we have to come out ready to go. We didn’t do that in the first quarter, and we paid for it.”
In this NBA offense with the highest goalscoring and two smallest teams in the league this season, the Timberwolves set franchise records for points in both the first quarter and game. They also hindered Memphis with their three-point shot, rebound and defense.
The Timberwolves looked like a team playing on Tuesday night in need of a win to clinch the ratings. They opened with a 9-2 lead by as much as 13 before taking a 41-33 lead for the franchise’s record first quarter in the playoffs.
Minnesota led 65-62 in the first inning, then outpaced Memphis 32-30 in third for a 97-92 lead in the fourth quarter.
Edwards vs Morant
This series places the best pick for the 2020 draft against the #2 overall pick for the 2019 draft that has definitely been delivered in this game. Edwards and Morant became the first competing players in NBA history to each score at least 30 points in a playoff at age 22 or younger.
Edwards joined forces with Derek Rose, Tyler Hero and Magic Johnson and scored at least 35 points in a playoff before he turned 21.
“When he plays basketball at this level, he’s almost unstoppable,” Townes said. “It’s unstoppable, actually.”
Hint
Timberwolves: They topped 121 points on April 21, 2018 against Houston in the only game they won in that series. He topped the first quarter by 32 points on May 23, 2004 in Game Two of the Western Conference Finals against the Lakers. …Towns earned his double 43 this season. …Russell had five assists in the third quarter. But he was 2 of 11 shooting for eight after scoring 37 in his last game against Memphis in February.
Grizzlies: Jackson set a franchise playoff record by seven blocks during the first three quarters. Those Six Squares were topped by Marc Gasol on May 13, 2013, against Oklahoma City. …Clark earned his fifth double-double of the season. … Jackson and Stephen Adams met in seven follow-ups.
EXPERIENCE PLAYOFF
The Grizzlies hope to capitalize on their experience in the supplement now 0-1. Memphis won two games last year and then opened the first round in Utah with a big win. The next four Grizzlies lost.
“We were in the same situation last year,” Morant said. “A chain can quickly spiral out of control.”
Another protester
A woman tied herself to a basket post and stopped playing with 4:44 left in the second quarter. The woman wore a blue shirt, making it clear that she was with an animal rights group to protest a Minnesota owner’s factory farm, the same stance as the woman who stuck herself to the ground at a Timberwolves game earlier this week.
Zoe Rosenberg, 19, had a chain and strapped herself to the backs of basket cabinets with a Timberwolves bench. She was escorted back to the ring after security personnel removed the chain around her neck. She was arrested and detained Saturday night in Shelby County Jail on charges of disorderly conduct and trespassing.
next one
Game two Tuesday night in Memphis.