Timberwolves 106, Grizzlies 101
MINNEAPOLIS -- A 37-point second quarter for the Minnesota Timberwolves spurred a 106-101 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies at Target Center on Saturday.
The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for Memphis, which entered the night winners in six of seven overall.
Trailing by one with 35 seconds left, the Grizzlies had the ball to inbound in the offensive end of the court, but were called for a five-second violation.
Wolves guard Ricky Rubio made two free throws to make it a three-point game and Grizzlies guard Mike Conley missed a runner in the lane. Andrew Wiggins made a pair of free throws to provide the final margin.
Rubio finished with 15 points and 12 assists. Wolves forward Shabazz Muhammad led all scorers with 25 points in 33 minutes off the bench.
Guard Mario Chalmers led the Grizzles with 19 points in a reserve role. Center Marc Gasol was one of two starters in double figures with 17 points for Memphis.
Grizzlies guard Courtney Lee went 3 for 3 from the floor including a pair of 3-pointers to help Memphis to a 25-20 lead after 12 minutes.
Minnesota went on a 20-1 run midway through the second quarter led by Rubio, who scored seven consecutive points. Muhammad scored nine points in the quarter as Minnesota finished the frame on a 24-8 run and a 21-2 edge in fast-break points, outscoring the Grizzlies 37-21.
Rubio had 12 points, eight assists and five rebounds at the half as Minnesota took a 57-46 lead into the locker room. Muhammad had 13 points in 17 minutes.
Muhammad scored five more points in the third as the Wolves took a 84-74 lead into the final quarter.
Wiggins had 19 points and rookie center Karl-Anthony Towns add 14 points while shooting 6 for 6 from the field, and also added nine rebounds for Minnesota, which snapped a two-game slide.
NOTES: Grizzlies G Tony Allen missed his second consecutive game because of knee and hamstring injuries. ... Grizzlies C Marc Gasol was in the lineup despite a nagging knee injury. ... Timberwolves G Tyus Jones and F Damjan Rudez were inactive. ... Memphis opens a three-game homestand against the Orlando Magic at FedEx Forum on Monday. ... Minnesota is on the road the same night when they play the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena.