Cedric Coward registered another double-digit-scoring effort on Wednesday, helping the Memphis Grizzlies stay hot with a road win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Coward produced 13 points, five rebounds, three assists and one steal in the 116-110 victory at the Target Center. He went 5-of-12 from the field and 3-of-3 from the free-throw line in 27 minutes as the Grizzlies (13-14) won for the ninth time in 12 games.

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With the Grizzlies playing without Ja Morant, coach Tuomas Iisalo turned to a forward-heavy starting lineup, featuring Coward, Jaylen Wells, Brandon Clarke, Santi Aldama and Jaren Jackson Jr. He was pleased to see how Coward impacted the game, both on and off the ball.

“The deep end is the best teacher,” Iisalo said. “Comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there. We expect him to contribute, no matter if it’s a first-year player or a 10th-year player. He is expected to do his job. With the injuries and different things that we’ve had, you just have to step up to the challenge, and whatever role you’re given on that given night, you’re expected to contribute.”

Coward is averaging 13.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists on 31.1% shooting from 3-point range in 27 appearances with the Grizzlies. He is fifth among rookies in scoring and leads all first-year players in double-doubles (5).

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The 11th pick in the 2025 NBA draft has started the past 14 games for Iisalo, emerging as a key player for the team on both ends of the court. He has showcased his versatility and poise already at a high level, enabling him to have productive outings for the group.

Coward has fit in well with the Grizzlies through the first quarter of the season and has earned the trust of his teammates and coaches. He has stepped up amid a chaotic year and is contributing in any role the team asks of him.

“All of the stuff we do around gameplanning is there to help us win,” Iisalo said. “That’s the main point. That competitive edge, I think we have really developed that, and because of this, you see the team really believes that we can win together. Whoever we have is who we need.”

This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Grizzlies news: Tuomas Iisalo talks Cedric Coward’s contributions