Memphis duo Desmond Bane and Dillon Brooks say the Grizzlies need to put in more effort in defence if they are to bounce back when they host Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 2 on Tuesday.
Memphis can be backed at 1/3 to win in the Money Line and Minnesota are 12/5.
Comprehensive Game 1 loss
The Grizzlies claimed second seed in the Western Conference after finishing the regular season with a 56-26 overall record but they slipped to a 130-117 defeat at home to seventh seeds Minnesota in the opening game of their first round playoff series.
Minnesota's Anthony Edwards led the scoring with 36 points, while Karl Anthony-Towns had 29 points and 13 rebounds.
Towns was one of two Timberwolves players to register double figures in rebounds as forward Brandon Clarke had 12 off the bench.
Jaden McDaniels led the Grizzlies in rebounds with seven, and both Bane and Brooks feel Memphis have to raise the defensive side of their game if they are to fight back and level the series before the two teams head to Minnesota for Games 3 and 4.
"This series is going to be decided on 50-50 balls and rebounding," said forward Brooks, via Sportsnaut. "The real grit and grind [stuff]."
Related NBA News
NBA - US Sports: Heat remain wary of Young and Hawks
NBA - US Sports: Heat focused on here and now
NBA - US Sports: Celtics 'ready to roll'
NBA - US Sports: Nuggets offer threat to Warriors
Be ready for battle
Bane revealed Memphis had prepared for a physical test against Minnesota but they didn't follow through with those plans in Game 1, and the guard wants to see a response in the second clash on Tuesday.
He said: "Physicality is something that we felt like we addressed coming into the series, and I didn't think that it was there [on Saturday], at least at the level it needed to be to win. We're going to have to get grimy out there to win a playoff series."
Discover more from the world's favourite online betting brand
Win more with our US sports parlay bonus
