Minnesota @ Memphis preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 1, 2019 ) Memphis 115, Minnesota 107

The Memphis Grizzlies are finding a rhythm offensively and are beginning to find their way into the win column. The Grizzlies will try to put together their second three-game winning streak of the season when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday in the opener of a six-game homestand.

Memphis blew past the Los Angeles Clippers 140-114 on Saturday and did not show much drop off on the second night of the back-to-back, shooting 54.2 percent from the floor in a 121-114 victory at Phoenix on Sunday. The Grizzlies are winners of nine of their last 15 games and are averaging 117.9 points in that span, raising their season mark to 112.4. The Timberwolves are 4-2 since enduring an 11-game losing streak and are surviving despite the absence of All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns, who sat out the last 10 games with a knee injury and remains questionable. Minnesota squandered a 25-point, third-quarter lead at Cleveland on Sunday but recovered down the stretch and pulled out a 118-103 victory.

TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: FS North, FS Southeast

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (14-21): Minnesota center Gorgui Dieng is getting a chance to step up with Towns out of the lineup and delivered 22 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and four blocks in Sunday's win for his fourth double-double in the last eight games. Dieng knocked down 4-of-5 from beyond the arc against the Cavaliers and the starting backcourt of Shabazz Napier and Jarrett Culver went a combined 4-of-7 from 3-point range to help the Timberwolves pull away. Andrew Wiggins sat out the previous four games dealing with an illness but played 31 minutes on Sunday, finishing with 15 points on 6-of-19 shooting.

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (15-22): Center Jonas Valanciunas was the only starter not to reach 20 points while finishing with nine on 4-of-7 shooting in the win over the Clippers but made up for it on Sunday at Phoenix with a team-high 30 points on 12-of-16 shooting, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Valanciunas shot 50 percent or better from the floor in each of his last 11 games and is 10-of-16 from 3-point range in that span. Shooting guard Dillon Brooks is providing an outside compliment to Valanciunas and knocked down 11-of-20 from 3-point range over the last two games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Grizzlies PF Jaren Jackson Jr. is averaging 19.9 points over the last 15 games.

2. Napier scored 20 or more points in each of the last four games.

3. Memphis took the first two meetings of the season, including a 137-121 home win on Nov. 6.

PREDICTION: Grizzlies 126, Timberwolves 121