MEMPHIS, March 24 — Karl-Anthony Towns totaled 33 points and 23 rebounds as the Minnesota Timberwolves halted a nine-game road losing streak by dominating the third quarter in a 112-99 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies last night.
The Timberwolves recorded their first road win since beating New York on February 22. They also halted a five-game losing streak, a night after being eliminated from playoff contention.
Towns recorded his seventh straight double-double and 49th overall. He also recorded his 19th 30-point game and fifth career game with at least 30 points and 20 boards.
The All-Star centre reached the double-double early in the third when Minnesota took control by outscoring Memphis 35-18 and shooting 68.4 per cent (13-of-19).
Andrew Wiggins added 22 points for the Timberwolves, who shot 48.2 per cent. Rookie Josh Okogie contributed 17 points, while Tyus Jones collected 12 and nine assists as the Wolves allowed fewer than 100 points for the 12th time this season.
Mike Conley led Memphis with 23 points after sitting out Friday’s overtime loss in Orlando due to general soreness. He finished the game seven points shy of passing Marc Gasol as the Grizzlies’ all-time leading scorer, and his next chance to break the record is tomorrow against Oklahoma City.
Jonas Valanciunas added 20 points and 14 rebounds, but Memphis shot just 37.5 per cent and saw a four-game home winning streak stopped.
Minnesota ended the first quarter with a 10-2 run, and the first quarter ended in a 25-25 tie when Wiggins hit a jumper with one second left. Memphis held a 46-39 lead with about four minutes left in the second, but settled for a 50-49 lead at halftime.
Minnesota opened the third quarter with an 19-4 run and took a 68-54 lead on two free throws by Towns with 6:42 left. Towns picked up his fourth foul with 5:12 left but Minnesota took a pair of 19-point leads and carried an 84-68 lead into the fourth.
The Grizzlies were within 102-90 on a three-point play by Valanciunas with 3:29 left, but coming out of a timeout, Towns hit his third 3-pointer of the night to seal it. — Reuters
