The Minnesota Timberwolves evened their first-round collection in opposition to the Memphis Grizzlies with a nerve-wracking, 119-118, Recreation 4 win in Minneapolis on Saturday night time. The collection will now shift again to Memphis with issues all squared up at 2-2.

Karl-Anthony Cities was the story of Recreation 4, making amends for a disappointing effort within the earlier sport by placing up 33 factors and 14 rebounds on 8-for-17 capturing, whereas going 14 of 17 from the free throw line. Anthony Edwards returned from a quick harm scare within the first quarter to place up 24 factors on 4-for-8 3-point capturing.

Desmond Bane stored Memphis afloat for a lot of the night as a number of Grizzlies handled foul hassle, ending with a game-high 34 factors on 8-for-12 3-point capturing. Dillon Brooks added 24 factors, whereas Ja Morant struggled from the sphere for many of the night time, however ended with 11 factors, 15 assists and eight rebounds.

Listed below are a couple of takeaways from Saturday’s sport, together with a recap of our stay updates.

Cities bounces again

Just about no star in these playoffs has endured as a lot criticism as Cities did after his puzzling Recreation 3 efficiency, through which he scored simply eight factors on 4 subject aim makes an attempt whereas selecting up 5 fouls. He wanted to reply on Saturday, and boy, did he ever.

Cities got here out aggressive from the leap, refusing to accept jumpers and moving into the lane to attract free throws. Wolves coach Chris Finch stated afterward that Cities performed “pissed and free.” Essentially the most free throws Cities had ever tried in a playoff sport was eight, and he greater than doubled that in Recreation 4.

These weren’t empty calorie numbers both, as Cities did a lot of his injury late after the Grizzlies surged again. He scored 13 factors within the fourth quarter on 4-of-5 subject objectives, and made two game-clinching free throws with 4.4 seconds left.

The Timberwolves need to be happy with the efficiency they received from their star on Saturday, and it might present the group with some momentum as they head again to Memphis for Recreation 5.

Tough night time for Ja

Coming in with a profession playoff scoring common of 27.8 factors, Morant seemed baffled for many of the night when it got here to creating his personal offense. He did an awesome job facilitating with 15 assists, however the lanes he normally finds towards the basket merely weren’t typically there, and when he did get to the rim he struggled to complete by means of Minnesota’s athleticism and size.

“I am not Ja proper now,” Morant said after the game. “I am not taking part in above the rim.”  

On high of his difficulties scoring, Morant was additionally saddled with foul hassle for almost all of the night time, which led to him taking part in solely 33 minutes (he performed 40 minutes in Recreation 3). The Wolves additionally relentlessly attacked him on the opposite finish, as they’ve performed for many of the collection, which zapped Morant’s power and created the foul points.

Like Cities, Morant will look to bounce again in entrance of his dwelling crowd in Recreation 5.

JMac out of nowhere

We have seen it time and time once more within the playoffs. You account for the celebrities, however there’s normally one or two function gamers each sport who make the distinction. On Saturday that participant was backup Timberwolves guard Jordan McLaughlin, who scored 16 factors on 4-for-4 3-point capturing in simply 14 minutes. His buckets got here at huge moments as effectively, like this fourth-quarter 3-pointer after the Grizzlies had minimize the result in 5 factors.

It is no secret that Minnesota depends on its three stars — Cities, Edwards and D’Angelo Russell — for the majority of its scoring, however key contributions have come from the bench all yr lengthy. In a sport as shut as Saturday night time’s, McLaughlin’s 16 factors had been completely essential.