Timberwolves-Grizzlies Preview

By TAYLOR BECHTOLD

(AP) -- With three-time All-Star Kevin Love, the Minnesota Timberwolves failed to post a winning record in six seasons while their postseason drought stretched to a full decade.

Now that Love is teaming up with LeBron James in Cleveland, the Timberwolves have been left to build around No. 1 draft pick Andrew Wiggins.

The 19-year-old Wiggins isn't likely to have it easy Wednesday night when he makes his debut on the road against the defensive-minded Memphis Grizzlies, who have high expectations after the first back-to-back 50-win seasons in franchise history.

Love developed into one of the league's top power forwards after Minnesota picked him fifth overall in 2008, but the Timberwolves went 153-323 during his tenure.

Coming off a season in which he averaged career highs of 26.1 points and 4.4 assists to go with 12.5 rebounds, Love was shipped to the Cavaliers on Aug. 23 to end summer-long rumors about a potential trade.

Wiggins was the centerpiece of that three-team deal for the Timberwolves, who also acquired 2013 No. 1 pick Anthony Bennett from Cleveland and talented scoring-forward Thaddeus Young from Philadelphia. The Timberwolves (40-42) also drafted athletic guard Zach LaVine out of UCLA at No. 13.

"Kevin's a great player, but when you have 11 of your top 13 guys back and you're looking at a situation where that team won 40 games in a tough Western Conference, it's not a rebuild," coach Flip Saunders said. "We're building with those guys."

Wiggins finished with 17.1 points per game, 5.9 rebounds and made 34.1 percent of his three-pointers in his only season at Kansas. The 6-foot-8 guard played through a back injury while averaging 11.8 points in four preseason games, including three starts, but has been declared healthy for the opener.

Veteran guards Ricky Rubio and Kevin Martin (19.1 points per game) and oft-injured big man Nikola Pekovic (17.5) should help lead the way for Saunders, who begins his second stint with the club after taking over for the retired Rick Adelman. Saunders guided Minnesota to eight playoff appearances from 1995-2005.

With Marc Gasol, Mike Conley and Tony Allen fully recovered from injuries, coach David Joerger and the Grizzlies (50-32) are considered top contenders in the Western Conference.

Memphis was on the verge of upsetting second seed Oklahoma City in the first round before blowing a 3-2 lead and losing on the road in Game 7. Now they're seeking to extend their franchise-best run with a fifth straight trip to the playoffs.

"I don't think the journey's over," said Gasol, who is entering the final year of his contract. "I think the best is to come."

Gasol, the 2013 defensive player of the year, played for Spain in the World Championships and worked to get stronger after a sprained left knee cost him 23 games last season. Gasol and Allen lead a defense that has ranked among the top five in points allowed per game in each of the past three seasons.

Conley will try to build on a career year in which he averaged 17.2 points on 45.0 percent shooting despite being limited to 73 games. Zach Randolph inked a two-year extension after posting team highs of 17.4 points and 10.1 rebounds.

The Grizzlies also added Vince Carter to help improve on their NBA-low 4.9 3-pointers per game last season. The veteran guard hit a league-best 146 3s off the bench while with Dallas in 2013-14.

Memphis split its four games with Minnesota last season, but has won nine of its last 10 home meetings.