VANCOUVER, April 3 -- The Vancouver Grizzlies snapped an NBA season record 23-game losing streak Wednesday night when Blue Edwards hit a 16-footer with eight-tenths of a second remaining for a 105-103 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Grizzlies rallied from a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit and won for the first time since a victory over the Sacramento Kings on Feb. 14. They had already set the single-season record and were one loss away from matching the all-time losing streak, set by the Cleveland Cavaliers over the 1981-82 and 1982-83 campaigns. With the score tied 103-103 and 6.8 seconds remaining, Edwards inbounded and took a return pass. He dribbled into the key area and launched his game-winning jumper. Tom Gugliotta made a bad pass on the final possession for Minnesota, which has lost three in a row. Bryant Reeves scored a career-high 28 points and Edwards added 24 for the Grizzlies, who lost 19 consecutive games earlier this season and still own the league's worst record at 12-60. As an expansion team, Vancouver is ineligible for the top pick in the NBA draft. Isaiah Rider had 28 points and 11 rebounds and Kevin Garnett added 21 points for the Timberwolves, who suffered a 100-98 road overtime loss to the Grizzlies on Nov. 5. A layup by Reeves and a three-pointer by Edwards gave Vancouver a 101-96 lead with 2:16 remaining, but Garnett hit a jumper and Terry Porter made a three-point play to tie the game at 101-101 with 1:16 to go.
Eric Murdock's 17-footer gave Vancouver the lead before a pair of free throws by Gugliotta tied it with 42 seconds left. The teams traded turnovers in the final 30 seconds. Minnesota opened its largest lead at 88-72 on a jumper by Rider with 10:56 to go. The Wolves still led 90-76 when the Grizzlies rattled off 16 straight points to take the lead. Byron Scott scored all 10 of his points in the burst, including a three-pointer for a 92-90 edge with 5:39 to go. Reeves had the other six points. Ashraf Amaya had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who shot 46 percent (34-of-74) from the field and set franchise records with 34 free throws made and 43 attempted. Vancouver had six players in double figures. Gugliotta scored 18 points and Porter 17 for the Wolves, who shot 56. 5 percent (39-of-69) and held a 36-31 rebounding edge but made 25 turnovers. Rider scored 19 points in the first half as Minnesota grabbed a 62-52 lead. He added seven in the third quarter to help expand the advantage to 84-72.
