Anthony Edwards is averaging 25.7 points this season, good for eighth across the league.
The Minnesota Timberwolves (20-17) and Memphis Grizzlies (24-14) square off for the first time this season on Saturday night (8 ET, League Pass). The Wolves are riding a three-game win streak, while the Grizzlies aim to get back in the win column after Thursday’s loss.
Here are five things to know before tip-off:
1. Minnesota’s defense has been key: The Timberwolves have used defense as a calling card over the last couple of seasons, and this year has been no different. They enter Saturday’s contest with the sixth-ranked defense (109.3) in the NBA, and they’ve been even peskier during their current win streak. Over this three-game stretch, Minnesota owns the second-best defense (102.5), and they rank first in opponent’s field goal percentage (38.9) and points allowed (97.3).
2. Anthony Edwards in his bag: Edwards has been on a tear over his last four games, willing the Wolves to a 3-1 record. Ant dropped a career-high 53 points (16-31 FG, 10-15 3PT, 11-12 FT) in the one loss, and he put up 30 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6 assists and 1.7 steals in 37 minutes in their three wins. He has been locked in from distance, shooting 54% (27-of-50) from 3-point range during this stretch and 42.7% on the season. His 25.7 points per game rank eighth across the league.
3. Donte DiVincenzo finding his groove: DiVincenzo moved into the Wolves’ starting lineup in place of Mike Conley over their last three games, resulting in a 3-0 record for Minnesota. The seventh-year guard has put up 12.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4 assists and 1.7 steals in 28.1 minutes as a starter, drilling over 39% of his 7.7 3-point attempts per game.
4. Rookies having an impact in Memphis: The Grizzlies have gotten major contributions from their first-year players in Jaylen Wells and Zach Edey, who both find themselves ranked inside the top five of our Kia Rookie Ladder for 2024-25. Wells has played in every game for the Grizz this season, ranking third in points per game (11.6) among all rookies while shooting over 37% on three-pointers. Edey has missed some time, but he’s sixth in scoring (10.3 ppg), second in rebounds (7.5), and tied for second with four double-doubles as a rookie.
5. The Grizzlies’ bench has been dominant: Memphis gets a boost from their bench, as they lead the league in scoring (47.1 ppg), assists (13.6), minutes played (21.6) and 3-point accuracy (40.9%), helping them earn the third-best net rating (3.6) in the NBA. Santi Aldama leads the way for their reserves with averages of 13 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists while knocking down almost 39% of his three-point attempts, all of which are career-highs.
