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Grizzlies bounce back against Timberwolves

Feb 24, 2011 - 5:27 AM Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Zach Randolph scored 24 points with 10 rebounds and the Memphis Grizzlies bounced back from a disheartening loss with a 104-95 victory Wednesday over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

One day after losing to a Denver Nuggets team that dressed only eight players in the wake of the Carmelo Anthony trade, the Grizzlies led by as many as 15 points for their fifth win in six games.

Hardly missing the 19.8 points of injured forward Rudy Gay, Memphis got 22 points from Mike Conley and 16 apiece from Sam Young and Tony Allen.

Kevin Love had 15 points and 11 rebounds for his 44th straight double-double, the longest streak in the NBA since Moses Malone had 44 in a row for Philadelphia during the 1982-83 season.

Memphis played the Timberwolves forward tough, with Love claiming that Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins told his players to "take it to him until he gets tired."

Already over the number in points, Love collected his final four rebounds in the last quarter to complete the double-double.

"They did a good job and had a good game plan," he said.

Allen, after being told that Love had tied Malone's streak, shifted the conversation back to Memphis' win.

"That's a good accomplishment as an individual player," Allen said of Love. "But our focus is on the team."

Despite Love's milestone, the Timberwolves saw their losing streak pushed to six games while shooting just 37 percent from the field. Wayne Ellington had a team-best 16 points off the bench, Luke Ridnour scored 15 and Michael Beasley chipped in 14.

Minnesota's only lead came after Darko Milicic opened the game with a jumper to make it 2-0. The Grizzlies scored the next 10 points to take control and carried a 26-18 lead into the second quarter.

They went ahead by as many as 14 points several times in the second quarter, taking a 54-42 advantage into the break, then led by a game-high 15 when Randolph hit a technical free throw to make it 73-58.

Memphis carried a 76-68 edge into the fourth, letting the Timberwolves get as close as three points on an Ellington trey with 9:19 left. But Allen scored four points and Conley hit a trey during a 7-0 burst that gave the Grizzlies back control.

Allen, after poo-pooing Love's latest double-double in his post-game comments, went on to compare his teammates to starters on the Eastern Conference-leading Boston Celtics.

"We just got to get a more consistent effort," he said.

Game Notes

Gay is expected to be out at least four weeks with a shoulder injury he suffered in the last game before the All-Star break...The Timberwolves began a four-game homestand that also includes visits from the Hornets, Warriors and Lakers.