The Grizzlies are 1-0 for the first time in a very, very, very long time. Actually, you have to go all the way back to the team’s days in Vancouver, back in 2000-01, the year before the team moved to Memphis. Ya know, When these guys were the next Big 3 in Vancouver.
Marc Gasol scored a career-high 32 points with 9 rebounds, and the Grizzlies beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 105-101. Zach “Z-BO” Randolph added 25 points and 13 rebounds for Memphis, which had dropped its last 13 straight openers. Mike Conley had 16 points and 6 assists and Courtney Lee also contributed 14 points. Gasol and Randolph also helped Memphis outscore Minnesota 58-34 in the paint.
The number one overall pick, Andrew Wiggins, had only 6 points and 3 rebounds. Thaddeus Young had 26 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds in his first game with the Timberwolves, going 10 for 18 from the field. Mo Williams scored 18 points with 4 assits and Shabazz Muhammad finished with 13. Ricky Rubio had 12 points and seven assists, but also committed seven of Minnesota’s 23 turnovers.
The Wolves, in their first game since they traded star forward Kevin Love to Cleveland in the offseason, out rebounded the Grizzlies 47-33. Minnesota’s total included 19 offensive boards. 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. Marc Gasol then took over and made a huge layup to give the Grizzlies a lead that they held onto.
The Timberwolves were within one possession though late in the game when Vince Carter, who signed by Memphis in the off season, converted two free throws for a 105-101 lead with 7.3 seconds to go.
Check out the highlights from ESPN.com
