“Like I stated after [Game 2] to the media: ‘Cool, we received to return again to our home now. I solely seen them at their home.'”
On the time, his Minnesota Timberwolves held a 17-point lead over the Memphis Grizzlies as Recreation 3 neared the top of the primary half, having already led by as many as 26 in the beginning of the second quarter.
There was each motive for Cities to be feeling assured.
The Timberwolves’ lead shrunk to as little as seven earlier than the half was over, earlier than they managed to open up a 25-point benefit within the third quarter.
What occurred subsequent, nevertheless, was branded “embarrassing for basketball” by Charles Barkley on the NBA on TNT broadcast.
The Timberwolves have been outscored 37-12 within the fourth quarter — together with a outstanding 26-2 run — and finally ended up shedding 104-95; that this recreation wasn’t even shut within the closing levels speaks to the monumental nature of the collapse.
Cities, the Timberwolves’ franchise star, completed with a paltry eight factors, 5 rebounds and one help in 33 minutes of motion. Extra shocking, although, was Cities taking a meager 4 photographs all the recreation.
“Go residence, drink some wine and transfer on to the following day,” Cities informed reporters about how he would get well from the defeat. “I imply, that is actually easy. Simply decompress.
“Simply go residence and bear in mind what received us right here, bear in mind what received me right here. It is our assist system, our work and one another and we simply received to lean on that.”
Grizzlies star guard Ja Morant had an inefficient night time, taking pictures simply 5-of-18, however completed with the primary playoff triple-double in franchise historical past, recording 16 factors, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
Desmond Bane posted a game-high 26 factors, together with seven made three-pointers, and Brandon Clarke got here up large off the bench with 20 factors and eight rebounds.
The Grizzlies take a 2-1 lead within the first spherical collection, with Recreation 4 to be performed in Minnesota on Saturday earlier than the group head again to Memphis for Recreation 5 on Tuesday.
Mavs take 2-1 lead over Jazz
Elsewhere, the Luka Doncic-less Dallas Mavericks pulled off a shock 126-118 win on the Utah Jazz to take a 2-1 collection lead.
Doncic has missed all three of the video games on this first spherical collection with a calf pressure picked up on the ultimate day of the common season, however the Mavs have nonetheless flourished in his absence.
After his 41 factors in Recreation 2, guard Jalen Brunson additional added to his inventory on Thursday with a team-high 31 factors for Dallas.
Utah’s Donovan Mitchell led all scoring with 32 factors however was unable to guide his group to a comeback after the Jazz discovered themselves down by 17 within the third quarter.
Doncic has been ramping up in direction of a return and is wanting more and more prone to play in Recreation 4, however head coach Jason Kidd stated the Mavericks could be taking no dangers with their star man.
