The Memphis Grizzlies secured a hard-fought 116-110 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in a thrilling NBA matchup on Wednesday night, which was Thursday, December 18, 2025, in Philippine time. The win was powered by a standout performance from star forward Jaren Jackson Jr.
Jackson and Landale Lead Grizzlies Charge
Jaren Jackson Jr. dominated the court with 28 points and 12 rebounds, setting the tone for a balanced offensive effort from Memphis. A significant surprise came from center Jock Landale, who provided a massive spark off the bench. Landale contributed a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds, and he set a new personal best by sinking four three-pointers.
The Grizzlies' supporting cast stepped up admirably. Jaylen Wells added 17 points, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cedric Coward chipped in 13 and 12 points, respectively. This collective effort helped Memphis win for the fourth time in their last five outings, improving their record to seven wins in their last nine games overall.
Teams Battle Through Key Absences
Both teams entered the contest significantly shorthanded, missing their primary offensive engines. The Timberwolves played their third consecutive game without All-Star guard Anthony Edwards, who is sidelined with a foot injury. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, were without their dynamic leader Ja Morant due to an ankle sprain.
Minnesota managed to build a 76-67 lead midway through the third quarter. However, Memphis responded with a decisive 14-2 run to seize control of the game's momentum. The Timberwolves fought back, pulling within two points late in the fourth quarter, but clutch plays from the Grizzlies sealed their fate.
Clutch Moments Secure Memphis Win
With the outcome hanging in the balance, Jock Landale drained a critical three-pointer to extend Memphis's lead. Jaren Jackson Jr. then delivered the final blow, hitting a floating jumper with just 47 seconds remaining on the clock to effectively secure the victory for the Grizzlies.
For the Timberwolves, Julius Randle led the scoring with 21 points. Rudy Gobert recorded a strong double-double of 16 points and 16 rebounds, and Donte DiVincenzo added 19 points and 11 boards in the losing effort.
In a positive side note for Memphis, forward Brandon Clarke returned to action, scoring six points. This marked his first game since March 19 after a long recovery from multiple knee surgeries.
Bulls Dominate Cavaliers Behind Giddey's Triple-Double
In other NBA action, the Chicago Bulls delivered a commanding 127-111 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The victory was orchestrated by Josh Giddey, who notched his sixth triple-double of the season.
Giddey finished with an impressive stat line of 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists. He also matched his career high by making five three-pointers. Coby White led all Bulls scorers with 25 points, and Nikola Vucevic added 20 points and nine rebounds.
Chicago's offense was exceptionally efficient, shooting 56.2% from the field. This performance allowed them to snap a frustrating trend, as they had lost 12 of their previous 13 meetings against Cleveland. The Bulls broke the game open in the final period, using an 11-3 run to push their lead to 17 points with five minutes left.
Despite a 32-point effort from Donovan Mitchell, the Cavaliers dropped their seventh game in the last ten. With a record of 15-13, a team considered an Eastern Conference contender is now facing a challenging stretch. Chicago played without guard Ayo Dosunmu, who missed his third straight game with a thumb injury.
