Gasol Powers Memphis Past Minnesota 105-101
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Marc Gasol scored a career-high 32 points, and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 105-101 on Wednesday night for the franchise's first victory in a season opener since 2000.
Zach Randolph added 25 points and 13 rebounds for Memphis, which had dropped its last 13 openers. Gasol also had nine rebounds, Mike Conley scored 16 points and Courtney Lee finished with 14.
Thaddeus Young had 26 points in his first game with the Timberwolves, going 10 for 18 from the field. Mo Williams scored 18 points and Shabazz Muhammad finished with 13.
Ricky Rubio had 12 points and seven assists, but also committed seven of Minnesota's 23 turnovers in the Timberwolves' first game since they traded star forward Kevin Love to Cleveland in the offseason.
Memphis shot 52 percent, with Gasol and Randolph a combined 24 of 33 from the floor.
The Timberwolves used a 9-0 run to take an 87-85 lead in the fourth quarter. Anthony Bennett scored five points and Muhammad had four in the spurt.
The game was close for the next couple minutes before Memphis started to create some space. Gasol made a 21-footer for a 101-96 lead with 1:23 left.
The Timberwolves still were within one possession when Vince Carter, signed by Memphis in the offseason, converted two free throws for a 105-101 lead with 7.3 seconds to go.
Young scored 13 and Williams had 10 for Minnesota in the first half. Randolph and Gasol each had 16 points in helping Memphis to a 53-47 lead at the break.
TIP-INS
Grizzlies: Memphis extended its regular-season home winning streak to 15. ... Rapper Yo Gotti led the Grizzlies starters in for the introductions. ... Gasol's previous career high was 30 points against the Sixers in 2009.
Timberwolves: Andrew Wiggins, the No. 1 overall selection in this year's draft, got the start in his NBA debut after Kevin Martin was sidelined by an ankle injury. Wiggins scored six points in just under 19 minutes. ... With Wiggins and 2013 top pick Bennett, the Timberwolves became the first team in almost 30 years to open the season with the top picks from the previous two drafts. The last time was the 1984-85 season when the Houston Rockets had Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson. ... The game marked the first time in 14 seasons Minnesota opened the season away from the Target Center.
UP NEXT:
Grizzlies: At Indiana on Friday.
Timberwolves: Home opener Thursday against Detroit Pistons.
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