Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies take Game 2 against Timberwolves as series shifts to Minnesota tied at 1 apiece

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — After suffering a disheartening loss on their home court in Game 1, the Memphis Grizzlies roared back with a resounding 124-96 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night, squaring their first-round series at 1.

The Grizzlies, who finished the season with the NBA's second-best record at 56-26, spent the previous 72 hours stewing over their Game 1 debacle. Coach Taylor Jenkins had characterized the team as «pissed,» and Grizzlies power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. groused repeatedly about playing «s---ty.»

The Grizzlies won't need to subject themselves to that level of self-criticism after Game 2. They swamped the Timberwolves with 60 points in the paint — a Grizzlies hallmark this season — to only 34 for Minnesota. As is usually the case, point guard Ja Morant led the Grizzlies' incursion into the interior. He had a game-high 23 points, and scored or assisted on 15 of the Grizzlies' 30 field goals in the paint.

«I feel like I balanced very well on looking for my shots and making the extra pass,» Morant said. «It got us some open looks and the lead went up from there.»

Entering Tuesday's game, limiting Morant's impact near the basket was a point of emphasis for Minnesota, but Timberwolves coach Chris Finch conceded that the team didn't execute its defensive game plan against the All-Star guard.

«It wasn't supposed to be that way,» Finch said. «We'll look at making whatever adjustments we need to make right now.»

Memphis experienced a scare in the third quarter when Morant took a knee to his left thigh while fighting over a screen from Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns. He limped off the floor and went to the Grizzlies' training room but returned to action in the fourth quarter to help