Ty Jerome returns from injury, bringing much-needed stability to the struggling Grizzlies as they face the surging Timberwolves.
Ty Jerome’s long road back from injury reaches its first checkpoint Saturday night, offering the Memphis Grizzlies a measured boost as they search for stability amid a difficult stretch.
Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Iisalo said Jerome is expected to make his season debut against the Minnesota Timberwolves at FedExForum. The veteran guard has been sidelined since suffering a high-grade right calf strain during the preseason in October, and Iisalo made clear that Jerome’s return will be tightly controlled.
“Very strict minutes restriction, not to be meddled with,” Iisalo said of Jerome.
Jerome’s return comes at a moment when Memphis is short on margin for error. The Grizzlies are coming off a 114-106 loss at New Orleans on Friday, their fifth straight defeat and their eighth loss in 10 games. Playing without star guard Ja Morant, who has missed four consecutive games with a left elbow sprain and is expected to be out for roughly two more weeks, Memphis has repeatedly struggled to close games after building early leads.
Against the Pelicans, the Grizzlies led by double figures in the first half before unraveling in the third quarter, falling behind by as many as 17 points entering the fourth. A late rally narrowed the gap, but the deficit proved too steep.
Jaren Jackson Jr. and Cam Spencer each scored 16 points in the loss, while Cedric Coward added 13 but was undone by five turnovers.
Coward addressed the team’s ongoing issues after the game, pointing to execution rather than effort as the missing ingredient.
“We aren’t doing enough to come out of these type games with a win,” Coward said. “I hold myself accountable.”
Jerome’s availability offers Memphis another ball-handler and organizer, even if his workload will be limited. Signed to a three-year contract in July 2025, Jerome arrives in Memphis after a career season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he averaged 12.5 points and 3.4 assists while carving out a reputation as a steady presence capable of stabilizing second units.
For now, expectations are modest. The Grizzlies are focused on rhythm and health more than immediate production, particularly with Morant sidelined and the team navigating a congested January schedule.
“You have to move on,” Coward said. “But at the same time you have to learn.”
Minnesota enters the matchup trending in the opposite direction. The Timberwolves have won three straight games after enduring a five-game losing streak that bottomed out with a lopsided home loss to Golden State, a night that included boos from the crowd.
Rather than splinter, Minnesota responded. The Timberwolves won the rematch against the Warriors, followed by a road victory over Dallas and a 123-111 win against Oklahoma City on Thursday — their second victory this season over the defending NBA champions.
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said the turnaround was rooted in accountability and internal conversations following the Golden State loss.
“I have this thing where we talk about rock bottom, and you think you’re at rock bottom, and until you get help and realize there’s always another rock bottom,” Finch said. “Because people always think, ‘Oh, you know, this is as bad as it gets.’ And then if you don’t address it internally, then it gets worse.”
Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 26 points against Oklahoma City, while Naz Reid added 18 points and seven rebounds off the bench. Edwards emphasized that his defensive engagement has been central to the Timberwolves’ response.
“I think it just starts with me on the defensive end,” Edwards said. “Like, if I’m guarding at a high level, I think everybody’s going to do it.”
Saturday’s game places two teams at different points in their arcs. Minnesota is attempting to sustain momentum after a needed course correction. Memphis, battered and shorthanded, is looking for incremental progress — and hoping Jerome’s long-awaited return can help steady the climb back toward competitiveness, even if it begins in short, carefully managed bursts.