Timberwolves stun Grizzlies, Jazz beats Mavs in NBA playoff openers

MEMPHIS/DALLAS: Anthony Edwards was glad to get a victory in the first playoff game of his career. Now, he and the rest of the Minnesota Timberwolves, want much more. Edwards scored 36 points in his postseason debut, and the seventh-seeded Timberwolves stunned the No.

2 seed Memphis Grizzlies 130-117 on Saturday to grab home-court advantage in the opener of their first-round Western Conference series. “Putting on another show,” said Edwards, the top overall pick in the 2020 draft. “That’s it.

Putting on another show and impact winning.” All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns added 29 points and 13 rebounds. Malik Beasley had 23 points, and Jaden McDaniels 15. Patrick Beverley and D’Angelo Russell had 10 apiece.

The Timberwolves, fresh off beating the Los Angeles Clippers in the play-in game, won their first playoff opener since 2004. That’s when they beat Denver in the first round on their way to the Western Conference finals. Towns said it was a good feeling walking off with a confidence-building win.

“We did a lot of little things that are needed to win,” Towns said. “We should be very proud of our performance.” Game 2 is Tuesday night in Memphis. Ja Morant led Memphis with 32 points and eight assists, and Dillon Brooks added 24 points.

Brandon Clarke had 13 points and 12 rebounds off the bench. Desmond Bane scored 17 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. had 12.

“I feel like most of the stuff was on us,” Morant said. “That’s why we lost.” Memphis tied the franchise record by winning 56 games in the regular season and earning its highest seed ever. The Grizzlies had a packed FedExForum for only their third Game 1 in Memphis.