Grizzlies end 7-game skid with 97-87 victory over Timberwolves, who drop 10th straight

Grizzlies end 7-game skid, Wolves’ skid at 10

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Marc Gasol scored 17 points and matched his career high with 16 rebounds, and the Memphis Grizzlies snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 97-87 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.

Minnesota lost its 10th straight.

Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo led Memphis with 19 points apiece, and rookie Sam Young had a season-high 15 on 7-of-11 shooting. Mike Conley added 10 points and seven assists.

Corey Brewer scored 16 points for Minnesota, while Ryan Gomes and Ryan Hollins each finished with 15. Reserve Ramon Sessions added 13 points and eight assists, while rookie guard Jonny Flynn scored 10 points but was 5 of 14 from the field.

Memphis built its largest lead of the game at 14 near the midway point of the fourth quarter, and still held the advantage with 3:42 left on Gasol’s 10-footer.

Memphis then weathered seven unanswered points from the Timberwolves, capped by Flynn’s drive with 2 minutes left. That cut the lead to 87-80, but Memphis was able to hang on for its second win of the season.

The teams played even during the first half, neither reaching a double-digit advantage. There were 13 ties and nine lead changes in the first two quarters.

Gay had 11 for Memphis, and Gasol’s 10 included a hook with 4.3 seconds remaining in the half that left the teams tied at 45.

Brewer scored 11 for the Timberwolves, connecting on five of his 10 shots as Minnesota shot 51 percent.

Memphis, meanwhile, shot 50 percent, and that included Zach Randolph missing all five of his shots. But the Grizzlies were hindered by 12 turnovers that contributed to 17 Minnesota points.

Memphis has struggled in the third quarter throughout the season, outscoring opponents only once. Against Minnesota, the Grizzlies were able to win the period 23-18, carrying a 68-63 lead into the final 12 minutes.

The Grizzlies opened the fourth with a 12-4 run capped by Young’s three-point play. That gave Memphis an 80-67 lead, the first double-digit cushion for either team.

NOTES: Memphis signed former Indiana Pacer G Jamaal Tinsley earlier Saturday. He’s expected to join the team early next week. Minnesota has not won since opening night, when it beat New Jersey 95-93. Both teams were without two of their bigger name players. Memphis G Allen Iverson was not with the team. Meanwhile, Timberwolves C/F Al Jefferson did not travel to Memphis. Both teams cited personal issues as the reason for the absences. Minnesota F Kevin Love, who is out with an injured left hand, originally was drafted by the Grizzlies. He was sent to the Timberwolves in a draft night trade that led to Mayo landing in Memphis.