Grizz Drop 5th Straight, Take on T-Wolves Tonight.

Colin Rafferty –

UPDATED:

Your Memphis Grizzlies lost last night to the New Orleans Pelicans 114-106, bringing their current losing streak up to five in a row.

Despite having the lead, yet again, going into half, the Grizzlies were unable to score 20 points in the third quarter, they finished with 15 to the Pelicans 35.

New Orleans put together a 20-2 run in the last 5 minutes of the third, that was about it. They just gave up in the last few minutes, balls being thrown around, dribbling off their legs, if it was bad, it probably happened to them in that stretch.

The Grizzlies would score 30 in the fourth but came up short after getting the lead down to 5 late.

Turnovers killed the Grizzlies early, Cedric Coward and Vince Williams Jr. both clocked in 5, while only Jaylen and GG Jackson were the only ones without a turnover.

The bad play that bewildered the Grizzlies against the Hornets was there yet again.

They committed 20 turnovers while getting blasted in the paint (68-48), the Pelicans gameplan is always to get inside and then kick out to guys like Alvarado and Murphy II.

They had no answer for Derrick Queen and Saddiq Bey who both posted 22 pts, Queen finished with 9 rebounds and 7 assists, Bey had 8 rebounds.

Zion Williamson helped with 21 pts, 7 reb, and 4 assists.

For the Grizzlies, Jaren Jackson Jr. had 16 pts, 9 reb, and 8 stocks; that is a new stat that combines the number of steals + blocks. Cam Spencer was on it last night, lighting it up for 16 pts on 6-7 from the floor and 4-4 from deep. They did a good job of setting him up for good looks, and he repaid be hitting the bottom of the net.

For one of the top bench units in the league, they didn’t play that well last night. 3-17 from three and only combined for 39 points, just a shade under their season average of 46.0 pts per game.

They are beaten, battered and beleaguered; I guess the only real positive is that they have an opportunity to reverse the curse and get a win tonight.

The 30-19 Minnesota Timberwolves come into town today as they will face off against the Grizzlies for a pair of home games. They will have a day-off in between games, the second game will be on Monday.

Minnesota is a top 5 team in total offense, a top 15 team in total defense, and are top 10 in point differential. They currently hold the top spot in the play-in tournament, tied with Phoenix.

The last time the Grizzlies played the T-Wolves was on December 17th, where they were able to secure a win in Minnesota behind the 28 pt, 12 rebound night of Jaren Jackson Jr.

Jock Landale hit four 3’s coming off the bench and the Grizz won 116-110.

That game was without Anthony Edwards, who will be available tonight for the Wolves. He is their leading scorer averaging about 30 points a game, other guys to keep a look out for are Julius Randle, Josh McDaniels and Naz Reid.

Reid is one of those guys along with the litany of one’s I mentioned before as being Grizz-killers.

Landale and Jaren will have their hands full as they will be dealing with Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid, and Julius Randle. Reid and Randle will handle most of the outside duty, with Gobert grabbing boards down below. That set’s them up for drives and kick outs to the Dante DiVincenzo’s and Bones Hyland’s on the team.

“The Captain” for years here in the 901 will be returning once again, Mike Conley. He is the old vet on the team, averaging 4.6 pts, 2.9 assists, and 1.8 rebounds per game. He is the last of the core and the one as Grizz fans we are waiting to see retire so he can join the rest of the legends of Grizzlies lore.

Minnesota comes into the game on a 3-game winning streak, with wins over the Warriors, Mav’s and Thunder, most recently. This comes right off a 5-game losing streak that included teams like Chicago and Utah.

In order for the Grizzlies to win, they will need to do something they haven’t done all that consistently, defend the three-point line. Minnesota is one of the top teams in the league in three-point percentage (37.4%).

They are a well-built team that can get inside and create that opening out deep, don’t play the passing lanes, play the man and don’t let him go anywhere.

Get some help from the young guys like GG Jackson and Cedric Coward, maybe this time get behind and claw back? No, that’s dumb, just figure out how to come out of the half with the same intensity they have in the first few quarters.

Whatever the gameplan has been in the first few minutes, hell the first few quarters, stick with it; they have done a pretty good job of jumping out on teams early, just have to finish the job.

News from the Grizzlies PR, Ty Jerome has been upgraded to QUESTIONABLE. Moving on up. Jaren Jackson Jr. and John Konchar are listed as DOUBTFUL. Jaren has a quad contusion, Konchar with an ‘Anterior Triangle Contusion.’

Well that’s fun and not confusing, but hopefully Jaren can get some treatment and get out there on the floor.

Today is a game that will feature some new stuff in the Grizz Den as a part of the 191 Collabs, Peso Design Studios will have hoodies, jackets, t-shirts, and bags available with some iconic Memphis based swag.

Be sure to get there early and grab some of the cool new merch provided by Memphis’ own Alonzo Green.

This is what the NBA needs to do more often, the number of better Grizzlies apparel I have seen on the streets than in the Grizz Den is comical. I get that everything has to be uniform and under the same guidelines as the rest of the league, but I push back.

I think the best stuff comes from the creative minds of fans, and these collaborations with local designers and fashion lover’s makes it feel authentic, real, and most importantly like the fans are truly connected to the team.

It is also a giveaway night, it’s Grizz’s Birthday today! The first 3,000 fans will recieve a ‘Classic Edition Super Grizz Squish.’ You’ll have to get down there early and get to the gate, these things will go fast.

Go celebrate Grizz’s birthday!

Tip-off is at 7 PM CST, inside FedEx Forum. Be careful getting down to the stadium, bundle up, and don’t forget to wear the bear!