Wolves come up short in opener

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Center Marc Gasol scored a career-high 32 points and forward Zach Randolph added 25 points and 13 rebounds as the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 105-101 on Wednesday night in the opener for both teams.
The Grizzlies won their 15th straight home game and snapped an 0-13 record in home openers since relocating to Memphis from Vancouver. The victory was the 14th in the past 16 games against the Timberwolves.
Two free throws by guard Vince Carter, in his first season with the Grizzlies, with 7.3 seconds remaining sealed the win.
Forward Thaddeus Young led Minnesota with 26 points. Guard Mike Conley had 16 for the Grizzlies.
Ahead by six at the half, the Grizzlies pushed their advantage to 10 late in the third quarter behind a 13-7 run. A layup from Conley off a steal by forward Tony Allen made it 75-65. Gasol’s turnaround hook in the final minute gave the Grizzlies an 81-74 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Minnesota opened the fourth quarter with a 13-4 run to take an 87-85 lead. Reserve forward Anthony Bennett’s 22-footer, shortly after his high-flying dunk, put the Timberwolves ahead for the first time in the second half.
Memphis was aided by a flagrant-1 foul call on Timberwolves guard Mo Williams with 1:40 left and the Grizzlies ahead 98-96. Conley made one of two free throws and the Grizzlies retained possession. Gasol scored to extend the Memphis lead to 101-96.
The Grizzlies shot 52.4 percent from the field in the first half to take a 53-47 lead. Gasol and Randolph each had 16 points and six rebounds at the break.
Memphis made eight of its first nine shots from the floor to build an early seven-point advantage at 17-10, but the Timberwolves rallied against Grizzlies reserves and used an 11-1 run to take a 27-25 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Gasol scored 13 of his 16 first-half points in the second quarter to help the Grizzlies regain the lead. He had eight of Memphis’ first 10 points in the quarter and his 20-footer with 9:13 to go gave the Grizzlies a 31-30 lead. Memphis did not trail again in the half.
Young, a Memphian, had 13 first-half points for the Timberwolves, who shot 38.3 percent from the field in the opening half and were slowed by 11 turnovers.
NOTES: The Grizzlies’ NBA Developmental League affiliate, the Iowa Energy, will play a regular-season game on Nov. 8 at FedExForum against the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Miami Heat’s NBDL club. ... Flip Saunders began his second stint as Timberwolves coach on Wednesday night. Saunders spent 10 seasons (from 1995-96 to 2004-05) with the Timberwolves, compiling a 411-326 record, including a trip to the 2004 Western Conference finals. ... The Grizzlies’ last opening-night win came Oct. 31, 2000, in Seattle. ... Three rookies - F Andrew Wiggins, G Zach LaVine and F Glenn Robinson III - are on the Timberwolves’ roster. Wiggins was chosen first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Draft in June before being acquired in a trade. LaVine, a 6-foot-5 guard from UCLA, was a first-round pick by the Timberwolves.