Takeaways: Amid trade speculation, Timberwolves fall to Grizzlies 137-128

This can be one of the most difficult weeks on the NBA schedule for players: trade deadline week. Uncertainty surrounds a lot of their futures, and that can affect their play on the court.

That could especially be a factor for the Timberwolves, who are at the center of rumors regarding former NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks.

But the business of playing games goes on in the meantime, and the Wolves had another matchup at Memphis on Monday, Feb. 2, one that they lost 137-128. The loss ended a four-game Wolves winning streak and came two nights after they beat the Grizzlies.

Anthony Edwards had 39 points to lead the Wolves.

When asked about his team’s level of effort after the game, coach Chris Finch told reporters in Memphis: “It’s on them. They’ve got to come and put the work in. It can’t be a sometimes thing.”

The primary marker for the Wolves having the appropriate amount of effort on a given night is the team’s defensive intensity. A shorthanded Memphis team had no trouble scoring on them most of the night.

The Grizzlies went ahead late in the first quarter and never relinquished the lead. After Memphis pushed the lead into double digits in the third quarter, the Wolves had a 9-0 run as Edwards got to the rim, but he and the Wolves were upset with the officiating.

In the end, the Wolves just couldn’t get a stop. Memphis shot 46% from three-point range with Jaren Jackson Jr., who sat out the Saturday game, scoring 30 points. Memphis came into the game 24th in three-point percentage, with Finch saying the Wolves allowed too many good looks.

“We didn’t hold him under 30 at one point in the game. … Defense wasn’t there tonight like we needed it to be,” Finch said.

Memphis had seven players in double figures.

The Wolves’ bench production was again lacking. Naz Reid had 10 points, Bones Hyland had just three while Mike Conley and Jaylen Clark didn’t score. Joan Beringer did not play.

McDaniels (29 points) had his third consecutive game of 20 or more points. He shot 11-for-14 and has shot 69% over the last three games as he continues a career best offensive season.

But Finch was hardly in the mood to hand out compliments after the game.

“He got a lot of great offense, but we didn’t get a lot of great defense from him or anyone else,” Finch said. “Offense I’m not worried about, it comes from wherever it comes from.”

BOX SCORE: Memphis 137, Wolves 128

NBA standings

Julius Randle (thumb) and Edwards (foot injury management) both came into the game questionable but played. Randle has not missed a game this season and has played all 82 once in his career. Finch told reporters before the game that Randle was “banged up” but it wasn’t enough to hold him out of the lineup.