We have one game on tap for tonight’s DFS NBA action as the Memphis Grizzlies/Minnesota Timberwolves series is the only one still active in the first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs. The last two games of this battle have been separated by two points or fewer after two of the first three games of this series were separated by double figures. 

In order for the Timberwolves to survive, they’ll need to make sure Karl-Anthony Towns is protected and doesn’t have to get too physical – putting him in foul trouble. Minnesota rolled the dice successfully last game and kept Towns on the floor despite him being in foul trouble early on. Memphis has been dealing with their own foul trouble in regards to Jaren Jackson Jr. With Steven Adams out of the picture, Memphis will need Brandon Clarke to once again step up in order for the Grizzlies to advance and not extend this series to Sunday. Here’s tonight’s DFS NBA showdown preview. Good luck! 

 

 

NBA Western Conference Playoffs

Memphis Grizzlies @ Minnesota Timberwolves (MEM up 3-2)

 

 

Injuries:

MVP/CPT:

 

 

Ja Morant has posted four straight double-doubles with one of those game’s being a triple-double. There’s no reason he shouldn’t take at least 20 shots tonight, especially with the Grizzlies' ongoing issues with getting offense from their frontcourt. He’ll have to drive the lane himself and we’ve seen him take 10 or more free throws three times in this series. He’s dropped nine-plus dimes in four straight outings and has been rebounding consistently since the second game of this series. Morant is the top-priced player on FanDuel, DraftKings, and Yahoo because of how lethal his explosiveness is on offense. He sets the pace and is the prioritized scorer for Memphis. He's also produced steals in every contest against the Timberwolves so far. Morant has hit the 30-point mark in scoring in two games this series including the last one.

 

 

Even though foul trouble has hindered Karl-Anthony Towns at times in this series, we’ve seen him post a double-double in four of five games. Towns is a good floor-stretcher and has been shooting better from beyond the arc in his last couple of games. With Steven Adams out, he should have zero issues attacking the rim as Memphis doesn’t have the size and strength to keep him out of the lane. Jaren Jackson Jr. has been committing a lot of fouls and it’s hard not to be physical against the immensely-sized Towns. He’s also swatted away two or more shots in three of his last four games and has pulled down 11-plus rebounds in four of five outings. We should see Towns play at least 35 minutes and, even if he gets in early foul trouble, Minnesota can’t take any chances of falling out of this game and thus losing the series. So, they’ll likely leave Towns in even if he picks up a few early fouls in the first half.

UTILITY:

 

 

Desmond Bane is another member of the Grizzlies' backcourt who benefits from the offensive issues up front. Bane came through in a lot of ways this season on both sides of the ball and was a key contributor to the Grizzlies being able to stay at the top of the Western Conference standings when Ja Morant was hurt. Bane has taken at least 19 shots and scored 25+ points in each of his last three games. He’s even shot 50% or better from the floor in two of his last four outings. Bane has also posted steals in three straight and he’s blocked six total shots during that span. We should expect him to be the Grizzlies' second scoring option behind Morant tonight. After spending more time on the perimeter on offense in Games 3 and 4, he was productive at the elbow in Game 5.

 

 

Brandon Clarke is coming off of his strongest game when it comes to production and he’ll be needed to shadow Karl-Anthony Towns for a decent amount of tonight's game. The Timberwolves' interior defense is horrible and Clarke will be Memphis’ main post option. He’s hit the 20-point mark in two of his last three outings with two double-doubles in this series. He's also grabbed eight or more rebounds three different times against the Timberwolves. He isn’t a scoring threat from downtown and he’ll mainly look to attack the basket. Clarke has also blocked shots in each of his last three games. He stays out of foul trouble and should play 35-plus minutes tonight to help limit the Minnesota frontcourt offense as much as humanly possible. He’s coming off of a 14-shot game after shooting nine the previous two – and he should absolutely take double-digit shots once again.

 

 

Patrick Beverley has the toughest challenge of all tonight because it’s been very difficult containing Ja Morant, but we know that Beverley will be out there often and we should see him play between 37-41 minutes. Beverley got into some foul trouble and that’s where D’Angelo Russell will need to help out and be more physical against Morant so Beverley can stay on the court longer. Beverley has hit double figures in scoring in three of five games and he stole the ball in three games in this series. He’ll bring up the ball a good amount and has dished five or more assists in four of five games in this series. He’s blocked shots in every single game against Memphis. Minnesota’s survival in the playoffs will come down to Beverley’s defense.

 

 

There is risk in playing Anthony Edwards tonight because he’s been mainly just scoring, but the Timberwolves will need him in full attack mode. The big question regarding Edwards is if one of the fiercest lane drivers in the league can still do it due to the health of his knee that he banged up a couple of games ago. If he can’t drive with that same force, he won’t fight for as many boards and he’ll spend more time hanging around the arc. Edwards has hit the 20-point mark and posted a steal in four of five games in this series. Hopefully, now that it has been more time since he initially hurt his knee that he’ll be able to drive the lane a bit more successfully.

 

 

D’Angelo Russell has been taking 10-plus shots in every game, but he hasn’t been hitting many. The Timberwolves should have him attacking the basket more while using Edwards as a decoy if he can’t find success in the paint. Russell is a strong driver but when Karl-Anthony Towns lines up at the perimeter and receives the ball there, he takes a good amount of time off of the shot clock working the post and getting inside. Russell should be on the run a little bit more off the ball. He's dropped eight dimes in two of his last three outings and has swiped a ball in every game in this series. Russell needs to crash the boards more if Edwards can’t battle for them. At least we know Russell’s minutes are safe, as he should once again play close to 40.

DART THROWS:

 

 

Jarred Vanderbilt has certainly taken advantage of the Grizzlies' frontcourt issues and he’s actually produced double-digit boards in two games. He's already posted one double-double this series and has grabbed no fewer than eight boards in each of his last three outings. Vanderbilt has been feisty in the lane and has grabbed steals in each of his last three games – averaging two steals per battle during that span. We should see Vanderbilt play 25-30 minutes tonight and he’ll have the post to himself when Karl-Anthony Towns needs relief. Plus, if Towns buries himself with too many fouls early, Vanderbilt will be the big beneficiary in the paint for inside production.

 

 

We should see Kyle Anderson play 20-plus minutes tonight and, even though he has yet to score in double figures in this series, he’s grabbed at least five rebounds and a steal in all but one game. Anderson has even blocked shots in two of his last three games and if Jaren Jackson Jr. once again gets in foul trouble, which he’s been in all series, Anderson will be on the court more. If he can pick up another shot or two from inside the arc, he’ll hit the 10-point mark in scoring. He’s used mainly as a bailout shooter from the elbow, but he can look to drive more to force the contact and get to the free-throw line more.

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