Another ethical loss as Grimes’ late-game heater comes up short vs. Edwards, T-Wolves

The Sixers hung around all night, even getting a late-game heater from Quentin Grimes, but they just didn’t have enough to take the down the Timberwolves Saturday.

OK, Quentin, we get it already.

The Sixers’ gave the Minnesota Timberwolves a good scare Saturday night, but ended up falling 114-109 for their season-long 11th loss in a row.

After a two-point first half, Quentin Grimes had a big fourth quarter to lead the Sixers with 28 points shooting 10-of-18 from the floor and 6-of-10 from three. Lonnie Walker IV went for 18 while Guerschon Yabusele had 19. Jared Butler had 16 points and a team-high eight assists.

Anthony Edwards led all scorers with 37 including a game-icing three with 7.3 seconds remaining.

The notable inactives for Philadelphia were Jeff Dowtin Jr. and Alex Reese, both of whom are running out of two-way days.

Here are some grades from the Center.

Guerschon Yabusele

There wasn’t much he could do defensively against a team this tall, but Yabu settled in really well offensively, and nearly all of that came inside. His outside shot wasn’t falling, but it was just one of those games where he’s having a positive impact in so many other areas. He was able to poke a few deflections that created steals. When he wasn’t doing that, he was getting back before the defense to create more fast break opportunities.

Grade: A-

Adem Bona

The rookie didn’t adjust to this matchup nearly as well as the previous game, getting into foul trouble early. He also rose up to meet Edwards at the rim and got completely posterized within the opening minutes.

The Rudy Gobert matchup posed some problems for him. He wasn’t really able to keep him off the offensive glass much. On the other end, with the Sixers being so bottled up on the perimeter, he didn’t get many chances to use his speed. With all due respect to Colin Castleton, the drop-off when Bona went to the bench was still stark, even if he wasn’t having his best night.

Grade: D+

Justin Edwards

It just never stops, does it? Edwards got off to a solid start in this one, reaching back to steal a pass and blocking a Jaden McDaniels floater a few moments later. Shortly after that though he had to take a brief trip to the locker room. He was able to come back and play 11 minutes, but was ruled out at halftime with a contusion.

Grade: Good grief

Quentin Grimes

This was certainly Grimes’ oddest game as a Sixer so far. He only had two points in the first half coming from the free throw line, missing both of his field goal attempts. He got a little more involved in the third quarter, though most of it was coming in transition.

He really started to get his spots in the fourth. Minnesota seemed to have things wrapped with a late 11-point lead. He drilled a flurry of threes that brought them within one. If it wasn’t for Edwards hitting a heroic three of his own, Grimes could have thrown quite a curveball at the tank.

Grade: B

Jared Butler

Like everyone else, Butler couldn’t really get much going off the dribble for much of the first half. He was persistent in trying to find Bona for lobs, but Minnesota had it scouted and broke up nearly every attempt. The Wolves cheating on that did at least give him a lot of good looks to get his floater off, which he took advantage of.

Grade: B-

Lonnie Walker IV

It didn’t take long for this Minnesota defense to bottle up the Sixers. Walker’s explosiveness off the dribble was their only ability to create space for much of the first half. He was also about the only one whose three-point shot was falling.

After a strong push that saw them take a lead in the third quarter, the whole team seemed to just wear down in the fourth — or at least appeared to until Grimes came alive.

Grade: B+

Just one more week to go. The Sixers head out for their last road trip of the season, starting with the Miami Heat Monday night at 7:30 p.m. ET.