Wolves gameday

Last update: February 8, 2007 - 7:14 PM

Preview: We've seen this before. Now the question is what the second shoe will look like when it drops. The Wolves are coming off an impressive home victory over Golden State. But don't assume the team is suddenly all right. The team followed up an impressive victory over Phoenix last week with four consecutive losses. This time the Wolves need to follow up a victory with another one on the road. "That's what it's all about," Wolves coach Randy Wittman said. "We need to back it up, get the snowball going in the other direction." This is the team to do it against: The Grizzlies, with trade rumors swirling around Pau Gasol, have lost four in a row and six of their past seven.

Players to watch: Gasol always has had the scoring touch vs. the Wolves. But his lack of defense in the last meeting between the two teams caused his benching in the fourth quarter. Mike Miller scored 23 points vs. Minnesota in Memphis on Jan. 12. Wolves center Mark Blount has averaged 15.4 points since Christmas.

Numbers: The Wolves scored 36 first-quarter points on the way to a 116-110 victory in Memphis Jan. 12, in which Kevin Garnett scored 28. The Wolves set what were then season highs in first-quarter points, halftime points (64), and total points. The Wolves are 34-11 vs. the Grizzlies organization all time, 4-18 on the road.

Injuries: For the Grizzlies, Kyle Lowry (left wrist) is out.

KENT YOUNGBLOOD

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