Timberwolves stun Grizzlies in Game 1
For NBA fans, there is no better time on the NBA calendar than the start of the postseason.
With the final two playoff spots determined with Friday night’s play-in games, the chase for the NBA championship officially begins with four playoff games on Saturday.
And the play-in games provided a perfect appetizer. The game that decided the No. 8 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks had the feel of a Game 7. And the L.A. Clippers-New Orleans Pelicans matchup that decided the No. 8 seed in the West had it all, with the Pelicans finally taking control late in the fourth quarter.
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This season’s playoffs have a ton of compelling angles. Can the Phoenix Suns win their first NBA title? Will the Milwaukee Bucks repeat? Can Stephen Curry return and deliver the Golden State Warriors their fourth title in eight seasons? Can the upstart Minnesota Timberwolves spring a surprise against the No. 2 Memphis Grizzlies?
Follow along as the USA TODAY Sports network keeps you up to date with the action as it unfolds.
Curry good to go for Warriors in Game 1
Golden State coach Steve Kerr said Steve Kerr will play in Game 1 against Denver on Saturday but did not say if Curry will be on a minutes restriction or indicate how many minutes he will play. Curry has been out since March 16 with a left foot injury.
Quick takeaways on Game 1 Timberwolves-Grizzlies
This will be one of the first-round’s most entertaining series, and the No. 2 Memphis Grizzlies have their hands full with the No. 7 Timberwolves who took Game 1, 130-117.
Regardless of record or seed, the Timberwolves have the confidence of a No. 1 seed.
Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards is emerging as a star in real time, following up his 30-point play-in performance with 36 points in his playoff debut.
The Grizzlies have their hands full with Karl-Anthony Town’s offensive game. Towns had 29 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
Yes, the Grizzlies have a deep bench, but don’t discount Minnesota’s.
This series has some electrifying dunkers.
Memphis’ Ja Morant had a highly efficient game: 32 points on 18 shots. He scored 16 of his points on 20 attempts at the foul line.
Jaren Jackson Jr.’s seven blocks were nice but foul trouble limited him to just 24 minutes. His impact on Memphis’ defense is a major reason the Grizzlies won 56 games.
Memphis shot 25.9% on 27 3-point attempts. That won’t get it done against a bad team in late January.
– Jeff Zillgitt
Dads of Ja Morantand Karl-Anthony Towns chirp on the sidelines
Ja Morant and Karl-Anthony Towns may be battling it out on the court during the series opener between Minnesota and Memphis, but their dads are getting involved in the action on the sidelines.
Tee Morant and Karl Towns Sr. have a running bet: If Minnesota wins the series, Tee Morant has to wear Towns’ jersey. If Memphis wins Karl Towns, Sr. has to wear Morant’s jersey.
Karl Towns Sr. gave Tee Morant an earful on the sidelines as it became clear that Minnesota was going to steal Game 1 on the road from Memphis. The two shared a handshake and laugh.
But don’t fret. Tee Morant is confident his son and the Grizzles will bounce back. He sent a message to millions of viewers at home: “We ain’t dunking no smoke. Memphis. Memphis. Memphis,” he said while looking into the ESPN cameras during the game.
– Cydney Henderson
Karl-Anthony Towns posterized Jaren Jackson Jr.
Karl-Anthony Towns put Defensive Player of the Year candidate Jaren Jackson Jr. on a poster. With 5:17 left to go in the third quarter of the Grizzles- Timberwolves series opener Saturday, Towns slammed down a dunk with his right hand over Jackson.
The dunk put the T-Wolves up by three over the Grizzles.
Animal rights activist chains herself to hoop during Grizzles-Timberwolves game
A fan was removed from the series opener between the Grizzles and Timberwolves after a woman chained herself to the back of the basket and threw flyers onto the court during the second quarter at Memphis’ FedExForum.
Direct Action Everywhere, an animal rights activist organization, identified the game protestor as Zoe Rosenberg. She wore a shirt that “Glen Taylor roasts animals alive.” The organization said the stunt was part of “ongoing efforts to get Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor to step down and return factory farm bailout money.”
There as a brief delay as security cut the protestor’s chain and carried her out the arena. According to USA TODAY Sports’ Network’s Damichael Cole, “She was pumping her firsts while being carried out by security.”
This is the second fan protest at a Minnesota Timberwolves game this postseason. During the Timberwolves’ play-in game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, an animal rights protester glued her hand to the hardwood along the baseline and sprawled out before security was able to pry her away.
Report: Atlanta’s John Collins…
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