MINNEAPOLIS — Maybe the Memphis Grizzlies like playing from behind. That was the story of their first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Grizzlies trailed by 10 entering the fourth quarter Friday night at the Target Center. They quickly trimmed that deficit and found themselves in a dogfight in the final seconds.
The game-winning basket came from Jaren Jackson Jr., who threw down a two-handed dunk around a pack of Timberwolves with 36 seconds remaining. That was all the Grizzlies needed, as they defeated Minnesota 114-106.
The win gave the Grizzlies their first playoff series win since 2015.
Here are three key observations from Game 6:
Free flowing basketball
Finally, there it was. The players didn’t have to look over their shoulders and worry about quick whistles. The Grizzlies nor Timberwolves dealt with foul trouble in the first half, and for the first time this series, coaches weren’t handicapped and forced into substitution patterns. Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins made a smart decision in the first quarter when he took Jackson out five minutes into the game with one foul. Jenkins brought Jackson back in late into the first, and the lack of foul trouble going into the second allowed Jackson to be more of a factor in the rotation.
Foul trouble did find its way to the Grizzlies late in the game. Dillon Brooks picked up three fouls in the fourth quarter and fouled out with 4:57 left to play. He finished with 23 points and shot 5-of-6 on 3-pointers. The game was tied at 97 when Brooks left.
Key rotation players missing in action
Ziaire Williams missed Game 6 due to right knee soreness after taking a fall in Game 5. He practiced with the Grizzlies during morning shootaround, but Jenkins said that he would be a game-time decision. John Konchar played in Williams’ spot as Jenkins went with Konchar over De’Anthony Melton for the third consecutive game.
Timberwolves backup center Naz Reid was declared out minutes before Game 6 due to personal reasons. Reid’s absence led to Greg Monroe, who had played sparingly in the playoffs, to earn backup minutes at center.
Grizzlies fall behind and comeback again
Once again, the Grizzlies built themselves a massive hole in the fourth quarter. Jenkins and players have spoken about how they’re not happy with needing to come from behind, but their play hasn’t reflected that. Memphis trimmed Minnesota’s 10-point lead and tied the game with 6:04 left. Minnesota answered with a 3-pointer from Anthony Edwards, and then the Grizzlies got another 3-pointer from Brooks. Memphis was not to be denied.
It was a 3-point Timberwolves lead at halftime before Minnesota jumped out to an 11-point lead in the first four minutes of the third quarter. Jenkins subbed in Brandon Clarke in place of Xavier Tillman Sr. That helped stop the bleeding, but Memphis needed a furious fourth-quarter run to finish the game.
Follow Damichael Cole on Twitter @DamichaelC.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Grizzlies beat Timberwolves in Game 6 to reach second round
