The Memphis Grizzlies hosted the Minnesota Timberwolves on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the annual King Day Game. Memphis (28-15), fresh off a 3-1 road trip, had already defeated Minnesota in the first game of that stretch. This time, they escaped with a hard-fought 108-106 win.

A Tale of Two Halves

Taylor Jenkins, reflecting on the game, said, “We finally got our legs, mind, or whatever it was. The last couple of games have been a tale of two halves. Both teams were struggling in the first quarter. It was a low-scoring affair. We found our groove in the third quarter.”

The Grizzlies, who lead the NBA in first-quarter scoring, opened with a 15-5 lead but struggled offensively the rest of the half. They shot just 34% from the field and hit only 4 of 22 three-point attempts. Jaren Jackson Jr., limited to 10 minutes due to three early fouls, managed 7 points and 6 rebounds in the first half.

GG Jackson, making his season debut, was greeted warmly by the FedExForum crowd. Meanwhile, Anthony Edwards, held to just 15 points in the previous matchup, came out firing. He scored 12 points in the first quarter and 10 in the second, helping Minnesota to a 54-43 halftime lead.

Second-Half Surge

The Grizzlies found their rhythm in the third quarter, outscoring the Timberwolves 28-22. Jaylen Wells contributed 7 points, and Desmond Bane added 8. Edwards was held to just 7 points in the period, and Memphis trimmed Minnesota’s lead to 76-71 heading into the fourth.

The final quarter took on a playoff intensity. Minnesota held the lead until 3:54, when Bane’s free throws tied the game at 100. Moments later, he scored again to give Memphis a 102-100 advantage.

Jackson and Naz Reid each scored 15 points in the fourth quarter, setting the stage for a dramatic finish. With 4.5 seconds remaining, Minnesota had the ball and a chance to tie or win. Edwards took the final shot at the buzzer, but it was off the mark, allowing Memphis to escape with the victory.

Standout Performances

Edwards led Minnesota (22-21) with 32 points, including 13-of-18 free throws. Reid added 29 points and made five three-pointers. Rookie Rob Dillingham scored 15 points in just 17 minutes.

Jaren Jackson Jr. paced Memphis with 24 points and 10 rebounds, avoiding foul trouble in the second half. Ja Morant scored 19 points and tallied 7 assists, while Bane contributed 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. Wells, who played solid defense on Edwards, added 13 points.

On Jackson’s ability to avoid fouls, Jenkins said, “It’s just better awareness. He’s learning from his experiences to stay out of those situations.”

Morant praised Jackson’s All-Star caliber play: “I’m pushing for him to be an All-Star. He’s been playing at an All-NBA level. He’s one of the healthiest players on the team and gets it done every night on both ends.”

Jackson reflected on his clutch fourth quarter: “I felt I was missing all the shots I was making in the fourth. They felt great. This is the best I’ve felt, especially after playing one of my worst games before the fourth.”

What’s Next

Memphis will host the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday, Jan. 22, at 7 p.m. and then stay home to face the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, Jan. 24.