Newcomers finally emerge for Grizzlies in easy win over Timberwolves

MEMPHIS -- It has taken about 10 days for players acquired by the Memphis Grizzlies in a trade with Detroit and Toronto to get with the program.

Former Pistons Tayshaun Prince and Austin Daye combined for 34 points, and the Grizzlies scored 26 points off 20 Minnesota turnovers in a 105-88 victory Sunday afternoon in FedExForum.

Prince and Daye had their best games yet for the Grizzlies (32-18), scoring 18 and 16 points respectively, on 8-of-8 and 6-of-9 field goal accuracy, respectively.

"I've just been in the gym, getting some extra shots up and getting in a good rhythm," Prince said. "Since I've gotten here (after being traded by Detroit) on Jan. 30, my legs have been a little heavy. So I just try to get some shots up and take care of my body off the court. I just had a good rhythm and flow, and the good thing about it is if you make one or two the guys keep looking for."

The Grizzlies also looked for Daye, a long, slim drink of water at 6-11, 218, who was valued by the Grizzlies to fill their most glaring weakness, three-point shooting.

After making just 1-of-9 shots in his first three games with the Griz (1-of-4 threes) averaging just over a point per game, he's averaged 14 points in his last two games on 10-of-15 field goals (5-of-8 threes).

"I want to space the floor for our bigs and find some shots for me out of the flow of the offense," Daye said. "Going through plays in practice with (Griz) Coach (Lionel) Hollins and knowing where I can get shots has really helped. He has been a great teacher. He told me to go out and play my game. And I make mistakes, make them on the fly. He'll help me out."

The Grizzlies had a season-high 30 assists that led to 41 baskets and 51.9 field goal shooting, including 6-of-13 threes. A 30-9 run by the Griz that covered the last 4:36 of the first half and the opening 3:46 of the second half put the outmanned Timberwolves (18-30) into too deep of a hole.

"The ball movement is getting contagious," Grizzlies' coach Lionel Hollins said. "The whole team is making the extra pass and the extra play, and our defense just kept building. We had 27 deflections, and (Griz guard) Tony Allen had nine by himself. He was awesome on defense."

Much to Timberwolves' Rick Adelman's chagrin, the Grizzlies scored 26 points off 20 Minnesota turnovers. Many of the turnovers were converted to fast break points, with Memphis holding a 20-4 advantage in that category.

The Timberwolves got 17 points each from guards Ricky Rubio and Luke Ridnour. But the Grizzlies' starting front line of Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol and Prince handled Minnesota's starting front, with a 43-31 scoring edge a 20-15 rebounding advantage.

"We were just really short, with our guards that are really short and our small forwards," Adelman said. "You've just got to deal with it."

NOTES: Griz swingman Quincy Pondexter, who hadn't played since Dec. 29 when he sustained a grade 2 MCL knee sprain, checked into the game with 1:41 left in the first quarter. He naturally received a huge ovation. He played 4:04 and didn't score. ... Memphis is 15-0 this season when scoring 100 or more points. ... Griz center Marc Gasol narrowly missed his first career triple double, finishing with nine points, nine rebounds and a season-high tying eight assists. ... The Grizzlies have won nine straight over the Timberwolves, matching the Memphis franchise's longest winning streak ever over an opponent (Golden State, also an active streak). ... Cory Brandt was the fan caught on camera Jan. 30 in Indianapolis' Conseco Fieldhouse just prior to the Pistons at Pacers tipoff, stripping off his Prince No. 22 Pistons' jersey when he learned Prince was a no-show because he had just been traded to the Grizzlies. The 27-year-old graphic designer was a guest of the Grizzlies and The Commercial Appeal newspaper on Sunday, finally meeting Prince prior to the game. "I know what you felt at the time, and I was going through it," Prince told Brandt. "Things happen for a reason, that's why you're here today and why I'm here today. You touched a lot of people in my family and I just want to say thanks for what you did." Prince gave Brandt a new Prince No. 21 Griz jersey and autographed it. "It's unbelievable that something great like this can happen for no reason," Brandt said. "It makes you think anything can happen. I'm totally shocked."