Wolves put the brakes on Grizzlies

MEMPHIS - Hold it. It was the Memphis Grizzlies who, free of former coach Mike Fratello's speed limit, had pushed the pedal to the metal, right? They were the ones scoring 46 points in a quarter, 70-some points in a half. They were the team that was running and gunning, setting a pace that would make the Phoenix Suns blush.

So why were they the ones seeing red Friday night at the FedExForum?

Because the team that had turned Beale Street into the Autobahn had the brakes applied to them in the Timberwolves' 116-110 victory.

At least a little, and at least early.

The Wolves started the game by setting the pace, building a 22-point lead at one point in the second quarter. So what if the Grizzlies warmed to the task late and made it a little closer than it maybe should have been?

A win's a win.

The Grizzlies tried to run and gun, but they spent too much of the first half missing. The Wolves? They won for the second consecutive time on the road by hustling and flowing, playing traffic cop to Tony Barone's young speedsters.

"It was important not to get caught up in their game," said Kevin Garnett after scoring 28 points in 36-plus minutes. "To play some defense in this game, to do the things we're capable of doing."

OK, so defense is a relative term. After all, the Grizzlies did shoot better than 50 percent and did score 110 points.

But those points came hard early on. And a team that as recently as two games ago had scored 39 fast-break points only managed 10 against the Wolves.

"They've been getting out and running like crazy," said Ricky Davis, who matched his season high with 27 points playing a monster 44 minutes. "The key for us is taking good shots, the shots we wanted. It helped slow down their fast break.

Indeed, a quick look at the box score shows some outstanding execution. The Wolves set season highs in first-quarter points (36), first-half points (64) and total points (116). And yet Minnesota managed just two fast-break points.

Two. That speaks to some pretty good tempo-setting, some outstanding half-court execution. And, probably, something else:

"They don't specialize in defense," Garnett noted.

No, they don't. The Grizzlies specialize in scoring, having averaged 117 in six games under Barone. They specialize in easy baskets.

And they didn't get many early. The Wolves made 13 of 21 shots while holding Memphis to 34.8 percent shooting as they took a 36-19 first-quarter lead.

It was the first time the Grizzlies had failed to open the game with 20 points since Dec. 26.

That lead grew to 22 points in the second quarter before the Grizzlies, warming up fast, closed to within 15 at the half.

They stayed warm, at least shooting-wise. The Grizzlies shot 60 percent in the second half, nearly 70 percent in the fourth quarter.

But they couldn't get over the hump. With Dahntay Jones playing some inspired ball -- he scored 12 fourth-quarter points -- the Grizzlies pulled within seven points numerous times down the stretch but couldn't get closer than that until a meaningless dunk at the end.

The keys for the Wolves? They made enough shots when it mattered, and then Garnett and Trenton Hassell had key offensive rebounds down the stretch.

"We were able to maintain our composure," said point guard Mike James.

"They made a run, but we didn't play on our heels. We stayed aggressive."

Kent Youngblood • kyoungblood@startribune.com