Derrick Rose, KAT Come Up Big For T’Wolves To Force Potential Play-In Game

On Monday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Memphis Grizzlies 113-94 to move them one step closer to a spot in the Western Conference Playoffs.

The Timberwolves got a huge boost from Derrick Rose off the bench as he continues to look more and more comfortable in his new surroundings. Rose finished with 12 points and three assists in 22 minutes, but the most intriguing stat was that Minnesota was plus-12 with D-Rose on the court. He’s taken a lot of flack over the last few years — which has been mostly fair — yet seeing him play well for a contender should make all NBA fans happy.

Karl-Anthony Towns and Jeff Teague were the T’Wolves leading scorers with 24 points apiece while the bench combined for 39 points.

Now, as long as the Pelicans hold on to their current 21-point lead against the Clippers, the Timberwolves will move into a play-in game at home against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday evening. The Nuggets stayed alive themselves on Monday night after erasing a double-digit deficit against the Portland Trail Blazers. Whoever wins will get the final spot in the Western Conference Playoffs.

Just last week, the Denver Nuggets beat the Timberwolves 100-96 at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

The Spurs and Thunder both clinched spots in the postseason on Monday night while the Pelicans will likely follow suit.