It was an amazing comeback- and it was an equally amazing collapse.
The Memphis Grizzlies outscored the Minnesota Timberwolves 37-12 in the fourth quarter to come away with a 104-95 road victory Thursday night in Game 3.
Memphis trailed by as many as 26 points, and they went on a 21-0 run into the fourth quarter. Minnesota had a 98% win probability entering the fourth quarter, and lost by nine.
The first half was very similar: the Timberwolves outscored the Grizzlies 39-21 in the first quarter, but the Grizzlies outscored the Timberwolves 23-12 in the second quarter.
The Grizzlies came back from deficits of 20-plus points twice in this game.
WHAT A COMEBACK FOR THE GRIZZLIES 😳
They have the lead in Minnesota after trailing by as many as 26 points! pic.twitter.com/N4Blj2tMX3
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 22, 2022
NOT IN JA MORANT’S HOUSE. GRIZZLIES WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!#GrindCity #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/5TzZ9jjJCw
— Mr Matthew CFB 🇺🇦 (@MrMatthewCFB) April 22, 2022
Ja Morant had a triple-double for Memphis, and Desmond Bane led the Grizzlies in scoring with 26.
Ja Morant tonight:
16 PTS
10 REB
10 ASTThe first triple-double in Grizzlies playoff history pic.twitter.com/QvgDVTCTHZ
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 22, 2022
And with the victory, Memphis takes a 2-1 series lead. If the Grizzlies win the series, Game 3 will almost certainly be viewed as the difference in the series. Even if Memphis were to now win the series 2-1, the comeback — and Minnesota collapse — will quite likely be viewed as the turning point and (significant) momentum-changer.
It’s safe to say that Game 4 in Minnesota is essentially a must-win for the Timberwolves.
The basketball world has had plenty to say about Game 3, and here’s a sampling of the Twitter reaction:
"That was embarrassing for basketball"
Chucks sounds disgusted after that Timberwolves collapse 😬 @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/avurmhTTl2
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 22, 2022
Wolves were up 25 with 3 minutes to go in the third. Memphis closed the game 50-13. Staggering
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) April 22, 2022
The Grizzlies outscored the Timberwolves by 25 points in the 4th quarter of their comeback win.
That's tied for the largest points differential in the 4th quarter of a road game in NBA postseason history.
380-9. https://t.co/Hib0JR8mji
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 22, 2022
Grizzlies walking by the Timberwolves locker room like… pic.twitter.com/1vI9DTU88U
— J.A. Adande (@jadande) April 22, 2022
That might be the worst Minnesota sports collapse I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot of them. Just a horrific, completely inexcusable loss.
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) April 22, 2022
this is the most minnesota sports thing you will ever see pic.twitter.com/Irhi4Kzina
— Did the Timberwolves win? (@DidTimberwolves) April 22, 2022
Grizzlies went on a 19-2 run to start the fourth quarter before Chris Finch finally called a timeout at the 6:44-mark of the period. That’s crazy.
— Matthew Tynan (@Matthew_Tynan) April 22, 2022
Timberwolves fans right now: pic.twitter.com/S586yneDvN
— nascarcasm (@nascarcasm) April 22, 2022