Timberwolves blow by Grizzlies in record-setting third quarter to win pivotal game 141-125

Chris Hine, The Minnesota Star Tribune on Apr 11, 2025

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. – There was no getting around it, Thursday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies was the “biggest game of the season,” as Anthony Edwards said.

For as inconsistent as the Wolves have been this season, they played like that statement was true in a 141-125 win over the Grizzlies that gives the Wolves a needed boost in the crowded Western Conference playoff race.

Edwards played like he meant his words as well, as he finished with 44 points and went into playoff mode a few games early when the Wolves needed it. The Wolves set a franchise record with 52 points in the third quarter, and their lead was 23 early in the fourth, only two nights after the blew a 24-point lead in the fourth during a 110-103 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

The memory of that loss hovered over the team Thursday as Memphis cut the lead to 15 with 6:11 to play, when coach Chris Finch called timeout. Memphis cut the lead to 129-119 but Julius Randle provided a key bucket to step the bleeding.

Randle had one of his best offensive games of the season with 31 points on 13-for-22 shooting. He and Edwards filled it up in that third quarter for a combined 32 points. Ja Morant had 36 for Memphis while Desmond Bane had 28.

The Wolves came out firing away from three-point range, and they opened an early 21-13 lead on the back of five three-pointers before the first media timeout. Edwards and Randle each hit a pair to get the offense jump-started. Edwards began the night 3-for-3.

But the Wolves defense let Memphis get going early, and the Grizzlies scored 11 of the next 13 points to retake the lead 24-23.

The Wolves went cold after their hot start, as they missed their next eight shots from the field, but then a run of threes from Donte DiVincenzo, Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker had the Wolves back on top 35-30. They would lead after one 37-31, as Edwards outdueled Morant 13-12 in the quarter. But Bane was about to overtake Morant as Edwards’ dueling partner.

Edwards came out on fire in the second as he hit his first four shots of the quarter, but the Wolves’ off-ball defense was lacking, and the Grizzlies stayed within striking distance by the first timeout at the 5:31 mark at 57-53. Bane was equally hot in the second, and he was 6-for-6 from three-point range to open the night, five of those coming in the second quarter. He finished the half with 24 points as the Grizzlies took a 72-67 lead headed into the locker room. The Grizzlies shot 65% in the first half and Edwards had 26 to lead the Wolves.

The Wolves picked the right time to set a franchise record for points in a quarter. Edwards had 18 points in the third while Randle had 14. The Wolves were 18-for-21 from the field and 7-for-8 from three-point range.

The Wolves starting lineup, which has had its issues this season, came out in the third quarter with a strong shift, as they opened on a 17-3 run for an 84-75 lead. The defense tightened, Memphis began missing and getting into foul trouble. Zach Edey and Jaren Jackson Jr. each picked up their fourth fouls in the opening minutes of the third, and that propelled the Wolves’ run. The Wolves pushed that 93-77 later in the quarter when Randle tapped out a free-throw miss to Jaden McDaniels, who found Edwards for a three at the 7:16 mark.

Edwards wasn’t done. With the Wolves up 13, Edwards hit threes on consecutive possessions to push the lead to 19. The Wolves couldn’t miss, and when they did they got second-chance points off it, like when Edwards got a putback dunk.