America stunned by mother of all meltdowns in NBA collapse for the ages

NBA fans couldn’t believe their eyes as they witnessed one of the most inexplicable playoff meltdowns ever seen in the history of the league.

The Timberwolves blew an unlosable game. David Berding/Getty Images/AFP

Memphis stunned basketball fans by pulling off a comeback for the ages to beat Minnesota 104-95 and take a 2-1 lead in their first round NBA playoff series.

The Timberwolves imploded in unbelievable fashion to cough up what should have been an unlosable game and spark a furious reaction from fans.

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The T-Wolves were up by 26 points before the Grizzlies’ 15-0 run helped cut the advantage to just seven points late in the second quarter. Minnesota roared back to life in the third quarter to extend its lead to 25 points but inexplicably, couldn’t hold on.

Memphis outscored the Timberwolves 37-12 in the fourth quarter to complete the biggest playoff comeback in franchise history.

The damning stats from the final 13 minutes of the game tell the story of just how badly Minnesota choked.

The Grizzlies outscored the Timberwolves by 30 points in the final 13 minutes of the game. @ESPNStatsInfopic.twitter.com/QvOTL7fidD

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) April 22, 2022

NBA legend Charles Barkley was fuming after the choke job.

“I don’t believe there’s dumb kids, I think they’ve just got bad parents,” Barkley told TNT. “These Timberwolves are dumb because their coaches are dumb.

“This dude (Timberwolves coach Chris Finch) let a team have a 21-0 run and didn’t call a time-out.

“This has got to be one of the dumbest teams. All that talent and they’re dumber than rocks.

“When they have to think, they can’t think.

“It’s so frustrating. One thing I can’t stand is stupidity on the basketball court.

“That was embarrassing for basketball. The coaching staff of Minnesota should be just as embarrassed as the players.”

The Grizzlies had the last laugh. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

American sports writer Dan Wolken tweeted: “I don’t think the Timberwolves were ever going to win this series but that last 45 minutes of basketball should go down in infamy as one of the most embarrassing meltdowns in the history of the NBA.”

Reporter Aaron Calvin wrote: “Being a Timberwolves fan is about learning to accept outrageous, historic, preposterous failure and I think there’s something a little bit beautiful in that.”

Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today said: Lot of meltdowns in this Grizzlies-Timberwolves game, but blowing separate 26-point and 23-point leads is something. Brutal loss for the T’Wolves. Great resolve from the Grizz.

Sports news director Matt Halverson said it was “inexcusable” and “hard to watch”.

Originally published as America stunned by mother of all meltdowns in NBA collapse for the ages