Timberwolves 86 - 93 Grizzlies
Final
  for this game

Grizzlies shut down T-Wolves

Mar 28, 2012 - 5:53 AM Memphis, TN (Sports Network) - Rudy Gay scored 21 points, Marreese Speights had 18 and the Grizzlies defeated the Timberwolves, 93-86, on Tuesday.

Dante Cunningham, starting in place of injured center Marc Gasol, added 13 points, a season-high 14 rebounds and four blocks. Memphis was coming off of Sunday's win over the Lakers, which halted a three-game slide.

"We just went out there with a chip on our shoulder," said Speights. "We've not been playing Grizzlies basketball lately. We knew Marc (Gasol) was out so we had to step up tonight and come through. We did that tonight."

Kevin Love had 28 points and 11 rebounds to pace Minnesota while Wayne Ellington chipped in 15 points and Derrick Williams finished with 14. The Timberwolves, who were without guard J.J. Barea, have lost eight of their last 11 games.

Through three quarters, both teams had led by as many as eight. The Grizzlies' advantage came early, when Mike Conley's jumper made it 44-36 shortly before the break.

In the third, Love wrapped a pair of three-pointers around a Cunningham 20- footer and Wesley Johnson followed with a layup for a 63-55 Timberwolves advantage. From there, Memphis took over, closing the quarter with a 13-4 run.

Tony Allen had eight points during the burst and Zach Randolph capped it with a layup, sending the Grizzlies into the fourth with a 68-67 advantage.

Memphis was up 78-75 midway through the final quarter when Gay hit four straight free throws. Cunningham and Speights followed with consecutive buckets to make it 86-75. It marked the Grizzlies' largest lead of the game and they never trailed again.

Memphis has won all three meetings between the teams this season.

"All three games have gone the same," said Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman. "Fourth quarter we're right there and then they kind of make the plays down the stretch and get the stops they need. It's been tough."

Game Notes

Gasol is day-to-day with a sprained right ankle...The Grizzlies improved to 17-7 at home while Minnesota fell to 11-15 as the guest...Barea has a thigh contusion.






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