Expectations were high for the Memphis Grizzlies heading into the postseason. They possess one of the most impressive young rosters in the NBA and have proven to be a high-caliber contender. This has been put to the test early on in the postseason with their matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The TWolves were able to secure a win in the opening matchup and appeared well on their way to taking a 2-1 series lead after Game 3.

Once down by 26 points in the matchup, the Grizzlies never gave up. Memphis went on a 21-0 run to tie up the game in the fourth quarter. In the last 13 minutes, the Grizzlies outscored the Timberwolves 42-12. It was a truly remarkable comeback and the team deserves major credit for never doubting themselves. Holding the Timberwolves to just 12 points in the fourth quarter allowed the team to jump ahead and Memphis now holds a 2-1 series lead.

Grizzlies Get Wild On Wolves

The Improbable Odds

In the early minutes, it was clear the Timberwolves wanted to make a statement. They jumped out on a 12-0 run to begin the game and extended this to a 39-21 lead after the first quarter. The ESPN win probabilities gave Minnesota a 90% chance to win at this point and the number continued to climb. This win percentage reached as high as 99.5% in the third quarter as the Timberwolves held a 20+ point lead in front of their home crowd.

The Grizzlies seemingly flipped the switch in the fourth quarter and proved how talented they are as a team. They tied the game with 8:33 left in the fourth quarter and took their first lead at the 7:09 mark. This win is not only a testament to their talent, as they never seemed rattled even during the large deficit. It was a hard-earned victory and is a major testament to the Grizzlies' willingness to fight.

Karl-Anthony Towns Struggles

It has been a nightmare postseason for Karl-Anthony Towns so far. He had a rough start to the play-in tournament after fouling out in just 27 minutes of play. KAT has been able to get back on track at the start of the series but saw his playoff demons haunt him again in Game 3. The former number one overall pick ended with just 8 points and 5 rebounds in the matchup. He attempted just four shots and was 3-4 from the field.

While it is unfair to expect him to have a great game every night, the Timberwolves need Towns to step it up. It is unacceptable for one of their premier players to be this uninvolved offensively. The three-time all-star is averaging 24.6 points per game and 16.4 field-goal attempts this season, but this production has not translated in the playoffs. It is very frustrating how uninvolved he was offensively and the Timberwolves suffered as a result. The three-point shooting champion has to assert himself more if the TWolves hope to have a chance in the rest of the series.

Ja Morant's Triple-Double

What can't Ja Morant do? The Grizzlies superstar continues to open eyes with his exciting blend of athleticism and overall basketball ability. Morant had a well-balanced game in this matchup, making his impact across several areas. He ended with 16 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds in Game 3. This is only the fifth career triple-double for Ja Morant and the first time he has done so in the postseason. He also tallied a steal and aggressively blocked three shots in the game.

The most impressive part about his is how Morant refused to be rattled. He had a poor shooting night by going 5-18 from the field and 1-3 on three-point attempts. This poor showing is enough to throw many players off their game, but Morant managed to impact the game in other ways. His commitment to the boards and ability to set up his teammates helped the Grizzles throughout their epic comeback.

This is another step up in Ja Morant's continued superstar rise. The gravity he held made an impact even as his touch struggled, and the point guard helped his team secure the victory. The 26-point comeback is one that will be remembered for quite some time. It should have been expected coming in, but it is clear the Grizzlies team will back down to no one. Holding a 2-1 advantage in the series the Grizzlies will remain in Minnesota for Game 4. If the Timberwolves are to have any chance in the series they must find a way to get a win and avoid the dreaded 3-1 hole. They allowed a valuable chance to slip away in this matchup and the Grizzlies' confidence is sure to be sky-high.