No win again for the Timberwolves in Memphis?

The Memphis Grizzlies host the Minnesota Timberwolves at FedEx Forum. The home side have made a solid start to the new season. After nine games, they are in seventh place in the Western Conference, although they recently suffered a blowout in Washington.

However, the visitors also travel with a loss against the Clippers and in their case it was already the fourth defeat in a row. The surprisingly strong start to the season has thus already been squandered again.

For the game at the FedEx Forum between the Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves, the forecast includes a home win with at least a four-point difference.

Memphis Grizzlies – Statistics & current form

The Grizzlies have played mostly successfully so far, but have not yet convinced in terms of defending their own basket. With 112.7 points, they even have the second-worst defensive rating in the NBA after the Hornets from Charlotte.

In contrast, however, the forward play works better with the 15th place in the offensive counterpart. Here, Ja Morant in particular performed well.

Last year’s “Rookie of the Year”, however, has declined recently: 18 points in the razor-thin win against Denver and only eleven in the most recent defeat in D.C. represent balances that are clearly below his seasonal average of 25.2 points. Yet Morant remains the club’s all-time leader in points, assists and steals.

Grizzlies have already found their starting five

An added bonus for the home side is that they have a solid structure: So far, the same starting five has always been in place. In addition, Memphis can now rely on home advantage: Only the second of four games in the “Grindhouse” against the Miami basketball team, which is also in very good shape, ended with a defeat.

Moreover, the victories always came with a lead at the break. Against this backdrop, the odds on a home win, including a lead of the home side at the break, in the duel between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Minnesota Timberwolves also offer value.

Predicted Memphis Grizzlies lineup:
Morant – Bane – Jackson Jr – Melton – Adams

Minnesota Timberwolves – Statistics & current form

The Minnesota Timberwolves present themselves in contrast to the upcoming opponent even less stable in terms of personnel. Already eight players have been in the starting five once this season. At least the centre Karl-Anthony Towns and small forward Anthony Edwards were always seeded.

Together, the two players are responsible for an average of more than 46 points in the Northwest Division and are thus by far the most important pillars of the offence. However, there is still room for improvement: Only the Rockets, Oklahoma and Detroit are behind the visitors in the relevant rating (100.5).

Towns is finally fit

Mill City fans’ hopes are pinned on Karl-Anthony Towns in particular. The 25-year-old has missed numerous games over the last two seasons through injury, but is finally available when healthy.

Towns proved just how strong he can play without any injuries early in his career when he was crowned Rookie of the Year in 2016, or in 2018 and 2019 when the 6-foot-11 “big man” was nominated as an All-Star in both years.

Nevertheless, the Grizzlies’ game against the Timberwolves also offers value in the odds for a maximum of 105 points due to the visitors’ fundamentally deficient offence.

Head coach Chris Finch also travels with his team in a white away waistcoat. However, this statement must be put into perspective, because the basket ball hunters from the Gopher State have only played one guest game this season. The win, however, came at the reigning champions from Milwaukee, which is why it unquestionably falls into the particularly respectable category.

Predicted Minnesota Timberwolves line-up:
Towns – Edwards – Russell – Beverley – Vanderbilt

Memphis Grizzlies – Minnesota Timberwolves Head-to-head comparison / H2H record

The last time the men from the Bluff City and Minneapolis faced each other was last May. Back then, the Grizzlies narrowly prevailed 139-135 at the Target Center in Minneapolis. Thanks to the win, the home side have an eight-match winning streak in this pairing!

The odds are also leaning towards a win for head coach Taylor Jenkins’ selection in Memphis’ upcoming match-up against the Timberwolves.

Memphis Grizzlies – Minnesota Timberwolves Tip

The home side from the Southwest Division will come out with anger in their belly against the Timberwolves. The last defeat against the Wizards was very clear and a reaction from the otherwise stable team from the “Home of the Blues” can be expected.

For the clash between Memphis and Timberwolves, the tip is therefore for a home win with at least a four-point difference. The personnel situation of the opponents from the North Star State speaks in favour of this.

Due to an injury, point guard D’angelo Russell, who is the third best shooter in Minneapolis after Towns and Edwards, is missing. Furthermore, the statistics speak a clear language in favour of the hosts, who have not lost since eight meetings with the Timberwolves. On top, the Grizzlies have been strong at home so far