The Minnesota Timberwolves (14-31) defeated the Memphis Grizzlies (25-20) 106-101 on Saturday.
Sometimes, the numbers don't tell the entire story. Despite the visiting Grizzlies, who came in with a vastly superior record and riding a four-game win streak, outperforming the Timberwolves in several important categories, Minnesota was able to walk away the victors in a tightly-contested game. Memphis tallied a 46.8 percent accuracy rate from the field, as well as a 47.4 ratio from three-point range. They also elicited 16 total turnovers from the Timberwolves, leading to 21 points, and held a 25-20 lead after one quarter. However, the home team won the second period handily by a margin of 37-21, and also went on a 5-0 run over the final 1:28 of the game to break a 101-101 tie and insure only their eighth win of the season at the Target Center.
Both teams saw bench players lead them in scoring. Mario Chalmers spearheaded the Memphis attack with 19 points, five assists, three rebounds, two steals and a block. Marc Gasol was right behind him with a 17-point tally that he supplemented with two rebounds, an assist and a block. Matt Barnes managed 13 points, five assists, three rebounds and a steal as the only other starter to pitch in double-digit points. Mike Conley (nine points, seven rebounds, six assists and a steal), Courtney Lee (eight points, three rebounds and a steal) and Zach Randolph (seven points, six rebounds an an assist) made modest but multi-category contributions.
With the loss, the Grizzlies fell into a second-place tie with the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Southwest Division. They head home to face the Orlando Magic on Monday.
Shabazz Muhammad led the Timberwolves on the night with a season-high 25 points, along with three boards. It was also the third-year pro's fifth consecutive game with double-digit scoring. Andrew Wiggins poured in 19 points of his own for tops among the starting five, and added five rebounds, an assist and a block. Ricky Rubio stuffed the stat sheet with a 15-point, 12-assist double-double that also featured six rebounds and a trio of steals. It was notably the point guard's first double-double of January. Rookie sensation Karl-Anthony Towns checked in with a near double-double of his own, totaling 14 points, nine rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block.
Despite the win, Minnesota remains in last place in the Western Conference's Northwest Division. They head to Cleveland to take on the Cavaliers on Monday night.
