MINNEAPOLIS - After losing their regular season opener to Memphis, 102-98, last October 26 at the FedEx Forum, the Minnesota Timberwolves retaliated with a 116-80 rout of the Grizzlies at the Target Center.
In front of 14,774 fans, the Wolves opened their season at home with a bang, improving to 1-2 after bowing to the Sacramento Kings, 106-103, last Saturday at the Golden 1 Center.
UCLA alum Zach LeVine, the NBA's reigning slam dunk champ, paced the Timberwolves with a season-high 31 points, which included a perfect 4-for-4 clip from the free throw line and a 5-for-9 outing from 3-point range.
"More focus, stop messing around, we know what we did the last two games, don't let it happen again" LaVine
told reporters during the post-game interviews inside the Wolves locker room.
Karl-Anthony Towns tallied 11 points and 10 rebounds while this year's no. 5 pick rookie Kris Dunn added 10 points, 6 assists and 5 steals in his first start in lieu of the injured Ricky Rubio.
Grizzlies coach David Fizdale didn't use his two of his starters --- Mike Conleythe highest paid NBA player this season, and their veteran Center Marc Gasol. Former Dallas Mavericks Forward Chandler Parsons remains in the injured list and did not suit up for Memphis.
Meanwhile, Nikola Pekovic did not play for the Wolves.
"I thought the ball movement was good from the beginning, I thought Kris (Dunn) got us playing with a good pace and when Tyus (Jones) came in, the pace was established," Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau said during post game interview.
Rookie 6-11 Center out of Michigan Deyonta Davis topscored with 17 points with 6 rebounds for the losing Grizzlies, who dropped to 2-2.
OVERTIME. Timberwolves center/forward Gorgui Dieng signed a 4-year contact extension with the team.
Dieng, 26, 3-year pro, out of Louisville via Senegal who will receive $2.3 million this season agreed to a new deal worth $64 million as reported by the Undefeated.
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