Minnesota @ Memphis preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 5, 2019 ) Minnesota 106, Memphis 108

The Minnesota Timberwolves have been eliminated from the Western Conference playoff race thanks to a five-game losing streak it carries into Saturday's contest against the host Memphis Grizzlies. An inability to win on the road is part of the issue as the Timberwolves are just 9-29 after dropping their last nine such games.

Minnesota suffered a 113-106 loss at Charlotte on Thursday, the club's first single-digit setback during the five-game slide. The Timberwolves absorbed losses of 26 points to Denver, 20 to Utah, 15 to Houston and 10 to Golden State prior to that defeat. The Grizzlies have dropped three of their last four games after losing 123-119 in overtime to host Orlando on Friday. Mike Conley was held out due to "general soreness" as Tyler Dorsey stepped into the starting lineup and recorded career bests of 29 points and nine assists.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS North Plus (Minnesota), FS Southeast (Memphis)

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (32-40): All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns has continued to be a bright spot even as Minnesota's postseason hopes evaporated. Towns recorded 21 points and 16 rebounds in Thursday's setback for his sixth straight double-double and is averaging 28.2 and 14 during that stretch. "That is something that we expect from the level that Karl has played at," interim coach Ryan Saunders told reporters of Towns' latest strong effort. "We are going to continue to get better as a team. We will learn from that in terms of getting help in areas and also making plays out of there, too."

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (29-43): Jonas Valanciunas registered the first 20-20 performance of his career by recording 23 points and a career-high 24 rebounds in the loss to Orlando. It was the second straight stellar effort from the Lithuanian, who scored a career-best 33 points and collected 15 rebounds two nights earlier in an overtime win over Houston. Veteran Chandler Parsons recorded a season-high 17 points against the Magic for his third straight double-digit performance.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Grizzlies have won their last four home meetings with the Timberwolves, including a 108-106 triumph on Feb. 5.

2. Minnesota SF Andrew Wiggins has scored 20 points in back-to-back games after failing to reach the mark in his previous six contests.

3. Memphis C Joakim Noah (knee) missed Friday's game and is questionable to play against Minnesota.

PREDICTION: Grizzlies 107, Timberwolves 103