Memphis @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 6, 2019 ) Minnesota 121, Memphis 137

The Minnesota Timberwolves got an extra long break over the holiday weekend and will take the floor for the first time since Wednesday when they host the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday. The Timberwolves won back-to-back road games prior to the break but are winless in their last four at home.

Minnesota, which will set out for a four-game trip after hosting the Grizzlies, is 7-2 on the road but just 3-6 at home and is looking for its first win in front of the home fans since knocking off San Antonio 129-114 on Nov. 13. "We just have to get it together," swingman Andrew Wiggins told reporters. "We have to have that mindset where we don't lose at home. It's our house, we have to protect it. That has to be our mindset." One of the Timberwolves' two road losses came at Memphis 137-121 on Nov. 6, but the Grizzlies are struggling of late and come into Sunday's meeting losers of six in a row. Memphis carried a 15-point lead into the half against Utah on Friday but was outscored by 24 points after the break, leading rookie point guard Ja Morant to tell reporters: "It was us. High energy just died down, and they just took advantage of it."

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, FS South (Memphis), FS North (Minnesota)

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (5-13): Center Jonas Valanciunas recorded team highs of 22 points and 17 rebounds to go with three blocks on Friday for his third consecutive double-double. The 27-year-old scored a season-high 30 points in a 121-119 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday and is carrying the frontcourt while forward Jaren Jackson Jr. battles through a shooting slump. Jackson managed nine points on 3-of-13 shooting and is 8-of-30 from the floor, including 4-of-16 from beyond the arc, over the last two contests.

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (10-8): Minnesota is hoping the performance of the reserves carries back home after the team got 46 points from the bench in a 125-113 win over Atlanta on Monday and 44 in a 113-101 triumph at San Antonio on Wednesday. "They're playing great, they're getting big minutes, big points, big rebounds, big tips, big everything," Wiggins told reporters of the reserves. "They've been playing great. They're probably the reason for our success on the road." Small forward Keita Bates-Diop led the reserves with 16 points on Wednesday and is averaging 17 points over the last three games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Grizzlies F Brandon Clarke is 18-of-23 from the floor over the last three contests.

2. Timberwolves SG Treveon Graham (ankle) left Wednesday's game and is day-to-day.

3. The team split four meetings last season, with Memphis earning one win in Minnesota.

PREDICTION: Timberwolves 124, Grizzlies 112