Great, I’ll dive into tonight’s Memphis Grizzlies vs. Minnesota Timberwolves game and gather everything you need to enjoy it as a viewer. I’ll cover the expected starting lineups, key injuries, past matchups this season and what they suggest, player-on-player matchups to watch, and any extra context to appreciate the game more. I’ll also include which team is favored to win and the spread.I’ll get back to you shortly with a full breakdown.

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Preview (April 10, 2025)

Starting Lineups & Injury Updates

Grizzlies: Ja Morant (PG), Desmond Bane (SG), Santi Aldama (SF), Jaren Jackson Jr. (PF), Zach Edey (C)theplayoffs.news. The 7-foot-4 rookie Edey has stepped into a big role, especially with forward Brandon Clarke out for the season (knee)theplayoffs.news theplayoffs.news. Two-way players Jaylen Wells (wrist) and Zyon Pullin (knee) are also sidelined, but Memphis’s core stars are healthywww.espn.com.
Timberwolves: Mike Conley (PG), Anthony Edwards (SG), Jaden McDaniels (SF), Julius Randle (PF), Rudy Gobert (C)theplayoffs.news. Minnesota reports no significant injuriestheplayoffs.news, so their regular starting five should be intact. Notably, Randle is a newer addition to the Wolves this season, giving them another scoring option at power forward alongside All-Star center Gobert.

Season Series & Previous Meetings

These teams have played twice already this season, and Memphis won both meetings by just 2 points eachtheplayoffs.news. It’s been a nail-biting matchup so far:

Jan 11 @ MIN: Grizzlies won 127-125. Ja Morant hit a clutch jumper with 18 seconds left and Jaren Jackson Jr. dropped 33 points in a tight game that went down to the wirewww.espn.com.
Jan 20 @ MEM: Grizzlies won 108-106. Memphis rallied in the fourth quarter with Jackson scoring 15 of his 24 points late, and Desmond Bane adding 22, to edge out Minnesotawww.espn.com. Memphis leads the season series 2-0www.espn.com, but clearly these teams are very evenly matched on the court. Those razor-thin outcomes suggest tonight’s game could again come down to execution in the final minutes. The Wolves have surely not forgotten those agonizingly close lossestheplayoffs.news, so expect a motivated Minnesota squad looking to turn the tables.

Key Player Matchups to Watch

Ja Morant vs. Mike Conley: This is a battle of explosive youth vs. veteran savvy. Morant is one of the league’s most electric guards in transition and attacking the rim, while Conley (a former Grizzlies franchise cornerstone) will use his experience and craftiness to slow down his successor. Conley will likely be tasked with guarding Morant at times, but don’t be surprised if Minnesota also throws the longer Jaden McDaniels at Morant to bother him. Conversely, Morant may have to chase Conley around screens – a fun duel between Memphis’ present and past at point guard.
Anthony Edwards vs. Grizzlies’ Wing Defenders: Edwards has blossomed into a 27.4 points per game scorer this seasonwww.espn.com and is the Wolves’ primary offensive weapon. The Grizzlies will have to collectively contain him. With no Dillon Brooks around this year, Memphis might put Desmond Bane on Edwards to start, with help from others like Aldama or even Jackson Jr. on switches. This could be a tough matchup for Memphis, as Edwards’ combination of strength and explosiveness can be hard to stop one-on-one. Keeping him out of the paint and off the free-throw line (he had 13 FT attempts in the last meetingwww.espn.com) will be key for Memphis.
Jaren Jackson Jr. vs. Julius Randle: A clash of star power forwards. Jackson Jr. (the reigning Defensive Player of the Year) anchors Memphis’s defense with shot-blocking and will likely guard Randle. He’ll try to use his length to bother Randle’s drives and contest his jumpers. Randle, a bruising scorer, can stretch out to three or bully inside. This matchup could be pivotal – if JJJ can shut down or slow Randle, it forces more responsibility onto other Wolves. On the other end, Randle will have to guard Jackson, who can hit the three and attack off the dribble. Jackson’s ability to draw Randle away from the basket could open the lane for Morant’s drives.
Rudy Gobert vs. Zach Edey (and the boards battle): In the paint we’ll see two giants. Gobert (3-time DPOY) is an elite rim protector and rebounder, and Edey is a 7'4" rookie who has been gobbling up rebounds at a startling rate (averaging 17.2 rebounds over the last four games)theplayoffs.news. Memphis as a team is third in the NBA in offensive rebounding (12.9 per game)www.espn.com, often getting second chances from Edey and others. Gobert and the Wolves frontcourt will try to control the glass and limit those extra opportunities. Keep an eye on how the young Edey handles Gobert’s savvy – it’s a great test for the rookie going up against one of the league’s premier big men.
Perimeter Shooting: A mini matchup to note is Desmond Bane vs. Anthony Edwards in terms of shot-making. Bane is Memphis’s best three-point shooter and has been averaging 2.5 made threes in his last 10 gameswww.espn.com. Edwards can heat up from outside as well. If Bane gets loose for open looks, it could tilt things, whereas Edwards will be the focus of Memphis’s perimeter defense. Also watch role players like Mike Conley and Luke Kennard (off Memphis’s bench) – a timely three or two from the supporting cast could swing momentum in a close game.

Who’s Favored Tonight?

Despite Memphis being at home, the Timberwolves are slight favorites according to oddsmakerswww.espn.com www.espn.com. The line has Minnesota by about 2.5 points. That likely reflects the Wolves’ strong recent form and Memphis’s struggles at home lately. The Grizzlies have surprisingly lost three straight home games coming into tonightwww.espn.com, whereas Minnesota has been excellent on the road (winning 7 of their last 8 away games)theplayoffs.news. In other words, this is essentially a toss-up game, but the Wolves get a slight edge on paper. Of course, once the ball tips, the betting line means little – these teams have shown they play each other extremely tight.

Additional Storylines & Stats for Fans

Playoff Implications: This game has big stakes in the Western Conference standings. Memphis (47-32) and Minnesota (46-33) sit at 7th and 8th in the Westwww.espn.com. Both have already clinched at least a play-in spot, but the 6th seed (to avoid the play-in) is still within reach. A win tonight would give the victor a leg up in the race. If they end up tied in the final standings, Memphis holds the tiebreaker by virtue of this season seriestheplayoffs.news. In all likelihood, these two could face each other yet again in the 7vs8 play-in game, so tonight might be a preview of that high-stakes matchup. In short, there’s a playoff atmosphere expected in this one.
Rising Stars on Display: This matchup features two of the league’s exciting young stars in Ja Morant and Anthony Edwards. Both are capable of highlight-reel plays – don’t blink when they’re in the open court. Morant’s acrobatic drives and Edwards’ explosive dunks can each bring the crowd to its feet. It’s a treat for any NBA fan to watch these two go head-to-head, as they represent the next generation of elite talent. Edwards has been on a tear offensively (as noted, 27+ PPG)www.espn.com, and Morant has been just as impactful for Memphis since returning to the lineup (he had 28 points in their last game)theplayoffs.news. The potential for a duel where both guys try to will their team to a win is high.
Defense vs. Offense: This game is also a contrast in styles. Minnesota prides itself on defense – they rank among the NBA’s top defenses, allowing only ~109 points per gamewww.espn.com. McDaniels and Gobert anchor a Wolves unit that can make things tough in the halfcourt. Memphis, on the other hand, plays at a faster pace and is more offense-oriented, scoring around 114 per game but also giving up about 117 on defensewww.espn.com. Whichever team can impose its style will have an advantage. If it becomes a slower, grind-it-out game, that favors Minnesota. If it’s up-and-down and high-scoring, Memphis will be more in its comfort zone. Notably, the two previous games saw one high-scoring shootout (252 combined points) and one defensive battle (214 combined points)theplayoffs.news – so anything can happen.
Veterans and X-Factors: Keep an eye on the veterans who know how to win tight games. Mike Conley’s steady hand and decision-making are vital for Minnesota in crunch time – plus, it’s a homecoming in Memphis for him, so he’ll be comfortable in this arena. For Memphis, watch Desmond Bane and Tyus Jones (if Jones is still with Memphis’s second unit) to provide stability around Morant. Also, Julius Randle adds a new wrinkle for the Wolves that Memphis didn’t see in last year’s matchups – his inside-out scoring will test Jackson Jr. and the Grizzlies’ interior defense. And don’t forget Jaren Jackson Jr. on the defensive end: he’s a shot-blocking menace who can singlehandedly erase mistakes if Wolves slashers aren’t careful. The Gobert vs. Jackson battle in the paint (two elite shot blockers) could lead to some spectacular denials at the rim.
Momentum Check: Coming in, the Wolves had been on a hot streak (13–4 since March before their last game)theplayoffs.news, though they’re coming off a tough loss where they blew a big lead. We’ll see if that collapse lingers or if they bounce back with urgency. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, have won three straight games after a rough 1–7 stretchtheplayoffs.news. They seem to have righted the ship just in time. The home crowd in Memphis is one of the louder ones in the NBA, so if the Grizzlies start strong, the fans could become a factor and restore that home-court advantage vibe (despite the recent home losing skid). Both teams know the importance of this one, so expect full effort and maybe playoff-level intensity. Bottom Line: This should be a fun, closely contested game between two evenly matched squads. The Grizzlies will try to defend home court and snap their home losing streakwww.espn.com, leaning on Morant’s playmaking and Jaren Jackson Jr.’s two-way impact. The Timberwolves will look to continue their road-warrior ways, riding Anthony Edwards’ scoring and a defense that can clamp down when it matters. With season bragging rights, play-in positioning, and star talent on the floor, this Grizzlies vs. Timberwolves clash is a must-watch for any NBA fan looking for competitive hoops. Enjoy the game!Sources: Memphis and Minnesota team and player stats from ESPNwww.espn.com www.espn.com; injury reports and projected lineupstheplayoffs.news theplayoffs.news; season series results and context from ESPN/APwww.espn.com www.espn.com and The Playoffs news sitetheplayoffs.news.