Grizzlies Survive Short-Handed Duel, Top Timberwolves 116-110 Behind Jaren Jackson Jr.’s Double-Double
It wasn’t a masterpiece of modern basketball art, but in a league where availability is often the best ability, the Memphis Grizzlies proved they could win ugly.
In a game defined as much by who wasn’t on the floor as who was, the Grizzlies grinded out a 116-110 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night. With superstar point guard Ja Morant sidelined due to a left ankle sprain and Minnesota missing their own franchise cornerstone in Anthony Edwards, the night became a test of depth, discipline, and which frontcourt could dictate the terms of engagement.
Ultimately, it was Memphis that found the answers in the fourth quarter.
Jaren Jackson Jr. Anchors the Grizzlies in Crunch Time
Without Morant to orchestrate the offense, the burden of creation fell squarely on the shoulders of Jaren Jackson Jr. The big man responded with the kind of two-way dominance Memphis envisioned when they built this roster. Jackson finished with a game-high 28 points and 12 rebounds, filling the stat sheet with three assists, a steal, and three blocks.
But it was his poise in the final minute that sealed the fate of the Timberwolves. Clinging to a fragile lead, Jackson isolated against the Minnesota defense and floated a soft touch shot into the basket with 47 seconds remaining. It was the dagger the Grizzlies desperately needed to stave off a late Minnesota push.
For a team that has navigated a laundry list of injuries over the last two seasons, Jackson’s ability to stabilize the ship was the difference-maker. He didn’t just score; he controlled the paint and forced Minnesota into difficult looks when it mattered most.
Jock Landale: The Unlikely Hero from Deep
While Jackson provided the star power, the Grizzlies found their X-factor in an unexpected place: the perimeter shooting of Jock Landale. Known more for his bruising interior play than his range, Landale stepped out and torched the Timberwolves from deep, draining a career-high four 3-pointers.
Landale finished with a massive double-double of his own—20 points and 10 rebounds—but his timing was impeccable. With the Grizzlies holding a tense 106-103 lead late in the game, Landale confidently stepped into his fourth triple of the night, silencing the Target Center crowd and giving Memphis the breathing room they needed.
When the defense collapsed to stop Jackson or Jaylen Wells, Landale made them pay. His performance exemplified the “next man up” mentality that coach has been forced to instill in this squad.
The Third Quarter Surge That Changed the Game
The game wasn’t always tilting toward Memphis. Midway through the third quarter, the Grizzlies found themselves staring at a 76-67 deficit. The offense was stagnant, and the Timberwolves seemed to be seizing momentum behind Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.
Then, the switch flipped.
Memphis orchestrated a furious 14-2 run to close the quarter, turning a nine-point hole into an 81-76 lead. This wasn’t a solo act; it was collective basketball. Landale, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Jackson all hit critical 3-pointers during the stretch. The ball movement became crisp, the defensive rotations tightened, and suddenly, the Grizzlies were the aggressors. That six-minute span completely altered the geometry of the game, forcing Minnesota to play catch-up for the entire final frame.
Timberwolves Offense Stalls Without Edwards
You can’t talk about this game without acknowledging the void left by Anthony Edwards. The Timberwolves clearly missed his explosive scoring punch. While Julius Randle (21 points) and Donte DiVincenzo (19 points, 11 rebounds) put up numbers, the Minnesota offense lacked structure down the stretch.
After a hot start where they hit 11 of their first 25 attempts from downtown, the Wolves went ice cold, missing 17 of their next 18 shots from beyond the arc. It was a brutal regression to the mean that Minnesota head coach Chris Finch didn’t shy away from, calling the performance a “horrendous night offensively.”
The Grizzlies’ defense deserves credit here. Jaylen Wells (4 steals) and the Memphis perimeter defenders hounded Minnesota’s ball handlers, disrupting the flow and forcing the Wolves into isolation sets that went nowhere.
Rookies and Role Players Step Up for Memphis
Beyond the headline numbers from Jackson and Landale, the Grizzlies got vital contributions from their younger rotation players. Jaylen Wells continues to look like a draft steal, pouring in 17 points and wreaking havoc in the passing lanes. Cedric Coward added a spark with 13 points, while Santi Aldama cleaned the glass with 11 rebounds.
On a night where excuses were readily available—road game, no Morant, no Cam Spencer– the Grizzlies chose execution instead. They leave Minneapolis with a hard-fought win and the confidence that even without their superstar, they have the pieces to compete.
