LaVine, Wolves Push Back Grizzlies 114-108

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Zach LaVine scored 28 points, Karl-Anthony Towns had 18 points and 10 rebounds and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the short-handed Memphis Grizzlies 114-108 Wednesday night.

Memphis pulled within 108-104 with 1:12 remaining but then Towns scored four straight points to stop the rally. Anthony Wiggins had 16 points for the Timberwolves, while Gorgui Dieng and Ricky Rubio added 15 points each. Rubio added 11 assists.

LaVine was 11 of 19 in the game and matched a career high with six 3-pointers on 10 attempts.

Lance Stephenson led Memphis with 24 points and 11 rebounds, while JaMychal Green finished with 18 points. Matt Barnes added 14 points, while Ryan Hollins, Briante Weber and Jarell Martin scored 12 apiece for the Grizzlies. Memphis lost its second straight.

The Grizzlies were without the bulk of their starting lineup, including Marc Gasol, Mike Conley and Zach Randolph, all sidelined with injuries. The remnants joining Tony Allen, Barnes and Green were a handful of players signed to 10-day contracts, plus additions at the trade deadline.

Memphis trailed by as many as 20 points in the third quarter but had one push left down the stretch, getting within four points on two occasions, the last coming on a rebound basket by Martin with 1:12 left.

But Towns answered with a 7-footer in the lane with about 50 seconds remaining, then a pair of free throws with 25 seconds left.

Before the fourth quarter, there were times when Memphis, on sheer energy, would cut into the large Minnesota lead, but once it got under double-digits, the Timberwolves would push back. Minnesota took the lead to 20 in the third, and heading to the fourth, the Timberwolves were up 90-78.

The Timberwolves shot 67 percent in the first quarter. LaVine had 14 points in the frame and made his first four shots from 3-point range. That gave Minnesota a 42-25 lead after the first quarter.

Memphis reversed the trend in the second quarter when Stephenson decided to take over the offense. Despite 17 points from Stephenson, Minnesota still led 64-55 at halftime behind 19 points from LaVine, who converted 7of 10 shots, including missing only one of his six shot from outside the arc.

Wiggins hit all five of his shots in the half for 12 points.

___

TIP-INS

Timberwolves: Rubio was coming off a 17-assist performance on Monday night against Phoenix that matched a Minnesota franchise record. ... The 42 first-quarter points matched a Minnesota season high for points in a quarter. ... Lavine also had 28 points in the loss to Phoenix.

Grizzlies: Earlier in the day, Memphis signed Xavier Munford, a 6-foot-3 guard, to a 10-day contract. Munford, who did not play, became the fourth player signed to a 10-day contract by the Grizzlies since Friday. Munford was playing for the Bakersfield Jam in the D-League. ... Those 10-day signings don't include Hollins, who signed a pair of 10-day contracts, was released, then re-signed by the Grizzlies. ... Stephenson returned to action after missing the last game with a right wrist sprain. ... The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame announced Wednesday that Gasol will be one of the individuals honored as the Male Professional Athletes of the Year.

UP NEXT

Timberwolves: Visit Houston Rockets on Friday night.

Grizzlies: Visit Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night.

(© Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)