Grizzlies-Timberwolves Preview

4/5/2008 12:31 PM

By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA
STATS Senior Writer

Al Jefferson needed a few years to develop before becoming a bona fide star this season. In fact, his first big game against the lowly Memphis Grizzlies occurred just two and a half weeks ago.

Jefferson, a bright spot in an otherwise dismal season for the Minnesota Timberwolves, looks to deliver another dominant performance against the Grizzlies when two of the league's worst teams match up Sunday night.

Jefferson is having a career season for Minnesota (19-56) after being acquired as part of a trade that sent Kevin Garnett to Boston in the offseason, averaging 21.0 points, 11.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. The 6-foot-10 center, though, didn't get a chance to start full time until 2006-07, posting 16.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game for the Celtics in his third year in the league.

High hopes were placed on Jefferson after being selected 15th overall in the 2004 draft, but he started only eight games in his first two years with Boston. He averaged just 7.3 points in his first seven games versus the Grizzlies (20-56), including a nine-point performance in a 109-80 Timberwolves loss on Dec. 1.

But Jefferson was outstanding against Memphis on March 19, scoring 22 of his 29 points in the second half to lead Minnesota to a 98-94 win. He added 13 rebounds and two blocks while shooting 10-for-16 from the field.

Jefferson was one of the best players on the floor against Phoenix on Tuesday night, finishing with 24 points and 12 rebounds in a 117-88 defeat. The Wolves shot 38.2 percent en route to their sixth straight road loss.

Minnesota had won four straight at home, including its victory over Memphis, before losing 94-90 to Detroit on Tuesday night.

Memphis, meanwhile, has lost five of seven overall after winning three of four. The Grizzlies are in 13th place in the Western Conference, a half-game ahead of the Wolves and three in front of last-place Seattle.

The Grizzlies are coming off a 117-86 loss to Golden State on Friday night. Rudy Gay led Memphis with 23 points.

Like Jefferson with the Wolves, Gay has blossomed for the Grizzlies this season. The second-year guard, picked eighth overall in the 2006 draft, tops Memphis with 20.1 points per game, 23.0 in two contests versus Minnesota.

"With experience, he understands the whole, complete game," Grizzlies coach Marc Iavaroni said. "He understands schemes and what people are trying to do. Obviously, he has to deal with double teams and denials. His defense has improved, but he needs to get better like all the second-year players."

Gay shot 10-for-17 from the field against the Warriors, but his teammates combined to make 34.2 percent (24-for-70).

Hampered by injuries, Memphis has been forced to give extra minutes to reserve players such as Jason Collins. With Darko Milicic (shoulder) not playing against Golden State, Collins had four points and three rebounds in 22 minutes in his first start since being acquired in a trade with New Jersey on Feb. 4.

"We have some injuries, and we are looking to different guys," Iavaroni said. "It does make it difficult to have a flow with a substitution pattern. We want to get looks at guys and evaluate them."

The Grizzlies and Timberwolves will conclude their season series at Memphis next Saturday night.