Grizzlies at Timberwolves
THE STORY: The Memphis Grizzlies are coming off one of their worst
efforts of the season and seek to bounce back against the host Minnesota
Timberwolves on Tuesday. The Grizzlies lost 88-75 to the New Orleans
Hornets on Sunday but have the perfect rebound opponent in Minnesota, a
team that has 10 lost consecutive games and is missing All-Star forward
Kevin Love. Memphis is 3-0 against the Timberwolves this season.
Minnesota was routed by the Indiana Pacers on Monday.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Memphis)
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (35-25):
Memphis could be without All-Star center Marc Gasol after he suffered a
bruised knee in the loss to New Orleans. Gasol’s condition couldn’t
possibly be as painful as the beating suffered against the Hornets when
the Grizzlies shot only 35.7 percent from the field, committed 21
turnovers and scored their third-fewest points of the campaign. “It was
nasty, ugly,” Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said. “You can’t beat anybody
scoring 75 points.” The Grizzlies are fifth in the Western Conference
and likely facing a first-round playoff clash against the Los Angeles
Clippers.
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (25-37): Love will miss his fourth straight
game and it is looking like he might not play again this season. He
suffered a concussion against the Denver Nuggets on April 11 and still
isn’t free of symptoms. Love would have to pass a series of
NBA-administered tests to prove he’s no longer suffering from brain
trauma before he can return. “I would doubt seriously if we going to see
him,” Minnesota coach Rick Adelman said. “If we do, it will be the last
couple games.” After meeting the Detroit Pistons on Thursday, the
Timberwolves play only twice over the season’s final seven days.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Memphis has won the last seven meetings and 10 of the last 11.
2.
Minnesota has lost 26 consecutive games in April (dating back to 2009)
to match the record for losses in any particular month.
3. Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay is averaging 23.7 points over the last six games.