Grizzlies at Timberwolves

Target Center – Minneapolis, MN

9:00 PM ET

Memphis -1.5

Through five games, this series has been close to dead even. Memphis holds a 3-2 lead, but it could easily be flip-flopped. The last two games have been decided by a combined three points.

So, it would stand to reason that Minnesota would hold court tonight, force Game 7 and extend the series. But there’s a little more to it.

The Timberwolves have to be kicking themselves for not being in a position to close things out in Game 6. Two meltdowns have prevented them from being in prime position to pull the first-round upset.

They blew at 26-point lead at home in Game 3. And in Game 5, they squandered an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter on the road.

That has to shake a team’s confidence. It has to make them wonder if they’re capable of going on the road to win a decisive seventh game.

Couple the psychological struggles with the fact that the Grizzlies best player, Ja Morant, is finding his groove and it adds up to a tough situation for the Timberwolves. The star guard scored 30 points in Game 5, including 18 in the fourth quarter and the game-winning layup in the waning seconds.

Now that he’s rolling, Desmond Bane becomes even more of a problem for Minnesota. The shooting guard has averaged 28.33 points in the last three games, including a 34-point outburst the last time these two teams met at Target Center. That’s a tremendous one-two punch.

Much like New Orleans, the Timberwolves have been feisty in the first round. But at some point, the better team ultimately prevails. Like Phoenix, Memphis will finally wrap up the series in Game 6.

Jason Schlefsky’s pick: Memphis M/L (-120)

Thursday’s NBA Winners

Dallas M/L (-110)

Philadelphia -1.5 (-110)

Phoenix -2.0 (-110)

ARIZONA COLORADO NEVADA NEW JERSEY TENNESSEE

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