After losing a terrible game to the San Antonio Spurs, the Minnesota Timberwolves bounced back in a huge way. Minnesota made a season-high 12 three pointers and got 30 points from power forwardKevin Loveand that helped to defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 101-93 on Sunday night at the FedExForum.
Dec 15, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic (14) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies center Kosta Koufos (41) during the first quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Love hit 4 of 8 from 3-point range and Minnesota (12-12) made 12 of 26. Love also had nine rebounds and four assists. CenterNikola Pekovicscored 19 points, guardJose Bareascored 15 off the bench, point guardRicky Rubiofinished with 12 points and forwardCorey Brewerhad nine points and 12 rebounds.
But it was the Grizzlies (10-13) who had a bad game. Point guardMike Conleylimped off the court with just under four minutes left in the fourth quarter. Memphis is already withoutMarc Gasol(left MCL sprain), so this will no doubt hurt them further. Conley scored a team-high 28 points on 12-for-20 shooting from the floor, including 4-for-8 from 3-point range.
Memphis power forwardZach Randolphhad a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds. ForwardJon Leuerscored 15 off the bench and reserve guardJerryd Baylesshad 14.
The Grizzlies were within two, 81-79, with 9:24 left in the fourth quarter when forwardDante Cunninghamblocked guardNick Calathes‘ layup. On the other end, a flagrant-1 foul and a goaltending led to five Timberwolves points and an 86-79 lead. A finger-roll layup by Randolph at 2:26 cut the lead to 95-92, but Memphis never drew closer.
The Timberwolves have now broke their 11-game losing streak to the Grizzlies, and an eight-game losing in Memphis. The Timberwolves last beat the Grizzlies in February of 2010 in Minnesota.
Love missed all three games with Memphis last season due to hand surgery. He didn’t waste time going to work Sunday, scoring 19 first-half points on 7-for-12 shooting from the floor, 3-for-5 from behind the arc.
The Timberwolves led 28-17 after a quarter, a 3-pointer from Brewer just beating the buzzer. Minnesota hiked the lead to as high as 19 points, a 22-foot jumper from Love making it a 50-31 lead with 4:28 to play in the half. But the Grizzlies finished the half on a 15-6 run to make it a 56-46 Timberwolves lead at the break.
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