(2) Grizzlies vs. (7) Timberwolves

The Western Conference’s second-seeded Memphis Grizzlies and seventh-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves meet in the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs. Minnesota beat the L.A. Clippers in the play-in tournament.

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How they got here

Memphis Grizzlies (56-26)

Ja Morant sprained his left knee nine minutes into a 32-point home loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Nov. 26, when the Grizzlies fell to 9-10, ninth place in the West. The luster had already worn from a surprise playoff appearance a year earlier, and Memphis was again a young team trying to establish its place in the league.

Only, the Grizzlies had other ideas. They knew their place. It was among the conference’s elite, and they were going to prove it, even it meant everyone on the roster had to compete with each other for the Most Improved Player of the Year award. Tyus Jones stepped into the starting point guard role. Desmond Bane established himself as a bona fide scoring threat. Jaren Jackson Jr. joined the Defensive Player of the Year chat. Dillon Brooks and Steven Adams did the gritty work, and everyone in a deep rotation joined the grind.

The Grizzlies won 10 of 12 without Morant during the holiday season. Not only did Morant hop aboard a moving train, he threw more coal into the steam engine. His 27.4 points (49/34/76 shooting splits), 6.7 assists and 5.7 rebounds in 33.1 minutes per game for a No. 2 seed would have put him squarely in the MVP discussion, if not for his 25 missed games. Never fear, for Memphis also finished 20-5 without him.

Minnesota Timberwolves (46-36)

There is little difference between this year’s Timberwolves roster and last year’s 23-win edition, other than the addition of Patrick Beverley. That was all Chris Finch needed in his first full year as Minnesota’s coach. Well, that, a second-year leap from Anthony Edwards and renewed commitment from forgotten All-Stars Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell. The tools were there; they just needed…