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Late run leads Grizzlies over Timberwolves

Oct 16, 2007 - 3:27 AM By Jason Smith PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MEMPHIS, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Second-year forward Rudy Gay and rookie guard Juan Carlos Navarro each scored 22 points to help the Memphis Grizzlies rally from a 16-point first-half deficit and earn a 101-93 preseason victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday.

Gay and Navarro combined to score 21 fourth-quarter points and spark a 15-0 Memphis scoring run after Minnesota had led, 86-83, with 7:37 to play.

Navarro, who partnered with Grizzlies forward Pau Gasol to help Spain win the 2006 FIBA World Championship, ignited the run with a layup in the lane. His back-to-back 3-pointers earlier in the quarter had tied the game at 81-81.

Minnesota, which shot over 40 percent from the field for the first time in three preseason outings, went more than six minutes in the fourth without scoring a point.

The Timberwolves had led by 13 points at halftime after getting 13 points and 12 rebounds in the opening half from forward Al Jefferson.

Jefferson, part of an offseason megadeal that sent Kevin Garnett to Boston in exchange for five players and two draft picks, finished with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting. He also added 15 rebounds in 25 minutes.

Memphis guard Mike Miller had 14 points and free agent acquisition Darko Milicic added 10 off the bench for the Grizzlies.

But it was Navarro and Gay that did most of the offensive damage, combining to go 17-of-33 from the field.

Gay's alley-oop dunk and 23-foot jumper from the right corner on back-to-back possessions late in the fourth gave Memphis a 97-86 advantage before Navarro capped the 15-0 run with a technical free throw with 2:11 remaining.

Minnesota guard Rashad McCants' two-handed dunk with 1:19 left to play gave the Timberwolves their first points since the 7:37 mark of the fourth quarter.

Marko Jaric scored 17 points and Ricky Davis added 14 for the Timberwolves, who limited the Grizzlies to 44 percent (36-of-82) shooting from the field.