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At 8-8, the Memphis Grizzlies are grinding in place

Sixteen games into the season, here is how it has gone for the 8-8 Memphis Grizzlies: win, win, loss, loss, win, loss, win, win, loss, win, loss, loss, loss, win, win, loss.

It’s been like basketball on a hamster wheel.

Fresh off of back-to-back wins after a three-game slide, Memphis got dismantled 138-95 by the Timberwolves (7-9) in Minnesota on Saturday night. At one point, the Grizzlies trailed by 45 points their largest deficit of the year.

“They punked us tonight,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said. “In three seasons, it’s probably one of the least competitive games we’ve ever had. It’s completely unacceptable.”

The debacle came a game after the Grizzlies second win of the season over the highly-touted Los Angeles Clippers (10-7), featuring All-Star point guard Paul George.

Dillon Brooks guarding Paul George, who paced the Clippers with 23 points while also racking his 4,000th career rebound. (Photo: Warren Roseborough)

“It does feel good to get a win against a good team, but it’s NBA,” Grizzlies Dillon Brooks said after Memphis beat the Clippers 120-108 at FedExForum on Friday Night (Nov. 19).

“This is West Coast (Conference). You savage for anything. You see it in the league. Teams are really good. The NBA is really good from one to ten. It’s really good, so we just take it day by day, hone in on us and figure out us then the games will just take care of itself.”

Memphis has lost four of its past six games, but more troubling this season have been big losses. Five of the eight losses this season have been by at least 20 points and seven have been by double digits.

Desmond Bane gets fouled as he scores and is fouled Terance Mann of the Clippers. (Photo: Warren Roseborough)

“We’re trying to get to the playoffs, I think we need to dial in,” said Memphis shooting guard Desmond Bane, who scored 21 points against the Timberwolves, keeping the Grizzlies in the game early, hitting his first three 3s in the first quarter.

“I think we’ve done a pretty good job, had our lapses here and there, but it’s time to lock in, for sure.”

After leading the Grizzlies over the Clippers with 28 points, 5 rebounds and assists, Memphis star point guard Ja Morant tied a season low with 11 points.

Entering the day eighth in the NBA in scoring at 26.0 points per game, Morant was just 3 of 9 from the field. He didn’t score his first basket until 5:12 remained in the first half and finished with five points in the half as the Wolves led by as many as 31.

“I’m not a shot hunter, but I guess I should have done that tonight in certain situations; played better defensively with more energy,” Morant said. “Pretty much what we have to do.”

Grizzlies played without Brooks (right hamstring soreness) and De’Anthony Melton (right groin soreness). Kyle Anderson started in place of Brooks and had two points in 20 minutes.

D’Angelo Russell scored 28 points, Anthony Edwards had 23 and Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 21 points as the Timberwolves cruised to their third straight win.

The Grizzlies finish their road trip at Utah on Monday.

(This Grizzlies recap features a report by the Associated Press.)


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