MINNEAPOLIS — With the bitter taste of opening night defeat still lingering in the back of their mouths and minds, along with the third quarter abomination in Sacramento that saw them stumble out to an 0-2 record, the Wolves were in desperate need of getting their first win of the season.
The home opener at Target Center on Wednesday night also brought the opportunity to avenge that first loss of the year to the Grizzlies, who outscored them 52-39 in the second half to prevail 102-98 last week at FedExForum.
When the starters were officially listed before the game, two obvious names were missing from the Grizzlies lineup: Mike Conley and Marc Gasol.