MINNEAPOLIS -- With bags under their eyes as big as the ones they had to pack for a rugged five-game road trip, the weary Memphis Grizzlies trudged into Target Center knowing they had one more fight before they could get back to the comforts of home. The Minnesota Timberwolves gave them all of that and more and sent the Grizzlies packing with a costly defeat. Kevin Love had 24 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists for his third career triple-double in Minnesotas 102-88 victory over Memphis on Wednesday night. "A lot of time zones. A lot of travelling. A lot of battles," said Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley, who had just seven points on 3-for-15 shooting. Ricky Rubio had 14 points, seven assists and three steals and Kevin Martin scored 21 points for the Timberwolves, who are trying to play spoiler down the stretch of what has been a disappointing season. "We wanted to find some sense of motivation and thats what we found tonight," Love said. "We just wanted to knock off a team that is fighting right now." Marc Gasol had 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists for the Grizzlies. But Zach Randolph had just four points on 1-for-8 shooting and Memphis dropped a game that coach Dave Joerger called a must-win before tipoff. The Grizzlies (44-31) entered in seventh place in the jam-packed Western Conference, but with Phoenix (44-30) and Dallas (44-31) all in the mix for the last two spots. ""We were just kind of running in mud the whole night," Joerger said. "Youre going to have games like that, where youre very heavy-legged. Weve been playing with a playoff focus. Each game has meant so much since like Christmas. Youre starting to see the effects of it now." Ronny Turiaf had 11 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in his first game since Feb. 19 and the Timberwolves shot 53 per cent despite missing Nikola Pekovic with a sore right ankle. The Grizzlies were a tired bunch when they arrived in Minnesota after splitting the first four games of the road trip. With three teams essentially fighting for two spots, they just dont have time to be tired right now. The Wolves led by seven at halftime, and Rubio attacked Memphis right out of the second-half gates. He had six points, a steal and an assist in the first 4 minutes and kept the pressure coming. He drew three fouls on Conley to force him to the bench midway through the period, hit a 3-pointer and fired a 50-foot outlet pass to Kevin Martin for a layup during a flurry that helped build an 18-point lead. Rubio left the game briefly with a sprained left ankle after a spill under the basket, but the damage was already done. A 12-2 run in the fourth pushed Minnesotas lead to 100-80 with 3 minutes to go. "Everybody else has something on the line," Wolves coach Rick Adelman said. "So we want to go out and play as well as we can and spoil it for them and see if we cant be a factor in it." Randolph, Conley and Tayshaun Prince combined to shoot 7 for 32 and the Grizzlies gave in to a team that appeared to have given up on this season after falling out of contention in the hyper competitive West. Randolph finished with single digits in scoring for just the fourth time this season and first since Jan. 15. The Grizzlies now return home to face the Nuggets before going to San Antonio and hosting Miami in a tough three-game stretch. The Suns get the Clippers, Trail Blazers and Thunder this week while the Mavericks start a four-game road trip. "Youve got to put this one behind us," Randolph said. "Weve just got to forget about it. We know this aint us. We know we can play better." NOTES: Wolves C Gorgui Dieng had eight points and nine rebounds and received a big ovation before the game when it was announced that he was named Western Conference rookie of the month. ... Memphis F Jon Leuer, a Minnesota native, finished with four points in 3 minutes. ... The Grizzlies only turned the ball over 11 times, but it led to 19 points for Minnesota. Air Max 270 React Sale .com) - The Vancouver Canucks will try to win two straight games for the first time since mid-January on Monday night as they play host to the struggling New York Islanders. Air Max 200 Australia .J. -- Patrick Sharp is on one of those streaks. http://www.outletairmaxaustralia.com/air...ustralia.html.A. Happ capped a challenging season with one of his best efforts of the year. Nike Air Max Australia Mens . The judge sternly instructed the prosecutor to restrain himself and he apologized -- then went right back to trying to pick holes in the testimony of the double-amputee runner. It was a harsh day of cross-examination for Pistorius, challenged relentlessly about his account of the moments just before he killed Reeva Steenkamp, as well as circumstances related to several firearms charges against him, including the firing of a gun in a crowded restaurant. Nike Air Max Plus Australia . -- The Oakland Raiders added a veteran presence to their young receiving group by signing free agent James Jones to a three-year contract Monday.SUNRISE, Fla. - By stocking up on tons of upcoming draft picks and young talent, the Florida Panthers are trying to set themselves up for a bright future.The future might arrive a little ahead of schedule.Often a playoff long shot at this time of year, the Panthers find themselves right in the mix of the Eastern Conference post-season race this season. The Panthers are six points out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the East, still in the chase despite just enduring a five-game losing slide that ended with a 3-2 win over Columbus on Thursday night.We still have some growing to do, Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said. But were close. Its getting exciting because we see the future and we see that were not far off.Led by a combination of savvy veterans — like goalie Roberto Luongo and defenceman Willie Mitchell — playing alongside a young core that includes rising star defenceman Aaron Ekblad, centre Nick Bjugstad and winger Jonathan Huberdeau, Florida has probably exceeded many expectations already.A year ago at this time, the Panthers were 15th in the 16-team East. Now, some of the players are already checking scoreboards around the league on a nightly basis to see what the playoff standings look like.Weve got a good team, said Huberdeau, the No. 3 overall pick in 2011 who hasnt sniffed an NHL playoff chase before. Its cool. The games are way more important when youre looking at a playoff spot. Itss big for us.dddddddddddd We dont want to miss our chance this year and weve got some veterans reminding the young guys who havent been there to take advantage of that chance.Florida starts a three-game, four-day swing through the New York metropolitan area on Saturday, with road games against the Rangers, Islanders and Devils. The Rangers are the team that was immediately atop Florida in the standings entering Friday, and the Islanders seem poised to grab one of the Easts best playoff seeds.It might be a critical stretch, but the road hasnt been unkind of Florida of late. The Panthers have emerged with 13 of a possible 20 standings points in their last 10 road games.This is a huge road trip, Luongo said.Floridas playoff history — or lack thereof — is well-known. The team hasnt won a playoff series since its run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1996, and has reached the post-season just once since 2000.Nonetheless, theres still confidence inside the Panthers locker room.And if nothing else, at this time of year, that represents some progress.Its such an important time of the season right now, said Sean Bergenheim, who had the gamewinner on Thursday on a play where he was simultaneously taking a high stick to his face. Its a good feeling but were learning at the same time. We havent played the way we have to play in a lot of games lately to be a successful team. But youve got to believe. And we do. ' ' '
