NBA Game Summary - Minnesota at Memphis
Memphis, TN (SportsNetwork.com) - Marc Gasol had a career-high 32 points, nine rebounds, two steals and two blocks in the Memphis Grizzlies' 105-101 season- opening win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Zach Randolph added 25 points and 13 boards for the Grizzlies, who had lost 13 straight season openers. Mike Conley and Courtney Lee tallied 16 and 14 points, respectively.
"I liked the way we started. We had great intensity. First game is out of the way, now we can look at film and see ways we can improve," Gasol said.
Memphis went 50-32 last season and lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs.
The Timberwolves, who went 40-42 last season, made a big splash in the offseason when they traded Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three- team deal. Minnesota landed the No. 1 picks in the last two drafts, Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett, from Cleveland, and Thaddeus Young from the Philadelphia 76ers, while the Sixers received Luc Mbah a Moute and Alexey Shved from Minnesota and a 2015 first-round draft pick from Cleveland.
Young ended with 26 points and two steals for the Timberwolves on Wednesday. Bennett and Wiggins added nine and six points, respectively. Mo Williams had 18 points.
"I learned a lot ... it was fun for me," Wiggins said.
Flip Saunders began his second stint with the Timberwolves after taking over for the retired Rick Adelman. Saunders guided Minnesota to eight playoff appearances from 1995-2005.
Trailing 85-78 early in the fourth quarter, Minnesota ripped off nine straight points to take the lead. Bennett's slam and jumper made it 87-85 with seven minutes left.
The Timberwolves held a 96-94 edge when Memphis scored seven straight points. Conley made a layup and Randolph added a tip-in before Williams was called for a flagrant foul. Conley went 1-of-2 from the foul line and Gasol made a jumper to make it 101-96 with 1:23 left.
After Williams made a 3-pointer, Gasol and Vince Carter each made two free throws to seal the victory.
Memphis trailed by two after the first quarter but outscored Minnesota by a 28-20 margin in the second.
A tight third period ended with the Grizzlies taking an 81-74 lead into the fourth.