star linebacker Justin Houston, recovering from his o

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The David Fizdale era as Memphis coach didnt get off to a glowing start.The end of his opening night was much more enjoyable.The Grizzlies climbed out of a 16-1 hole, put together 16 straight points early in the second half and beat Minnesota 102-98 on Wednesday night, spoiling Tom Thibodeaus debut as Timberwolves coach.Memphis, which still trailed with 1:45 remaining, closed the game on an 11-5 run to seal the win for Fizdale, the former Miami Heat assistant who was hired to replace Dave Joerger in the offseason.You noticed I kept my poise, Fizdale said of the anemic start that caused him to call a pair of early timeouts. I was squirming on the inside, but I just knew our team just had some big-time jitters.Mike Conley scored 24 points and Marc Gasol added 18 to lead the Grizzlies in the season opener for both teams. Zach Randolph, in his new role as a reserve, had 19 points and 11 rebounds.Andrew Wiggins led the Timberwolves with 25 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 21. Zach LaVine added 19 points.Thibodeau found some good things for his team, particularly the fast start, but noted his young players need to finish.When we go back and we look into it, were going to see that the defense wasnt good enough, Thibodeau said. The rebounding wasnt good enough. The turnovers werent bad, but, you know, some of the mental mistakes got us down the stretch.TIP-INS:Timberwolves: Minnesota connected on eight of its first 10 shots. ... Rookie Kris Dunn, the fifth overall pick, made his NBA debut near the 4-minute mark of the first quarter. He finished with eight points after hitting all three of his shots in the first half. I think Im starting to get comfortable, he said, so I wasnt really nervous. But, you know, playing in a crowd like that, it was great.Grizzlies: G Vince Carter is the oldest player currently in the NBA at 39 years and 274 days. He entered the game in the first quarter, moving him into 26th place on the career games played list with 1,275. He passed Terry Porter. ... Memphis is 2-14 in home openers. The only win before Wednesday was in 2014 over Minnesota.SUCCESSFUL OPENINGFizdale became the first Memphis coach to win his debut since Tony Barone Jr. won his first game in the middle of the 2006-07 season, serving as interim coach after Mike Fratello was fired.FAST STARTAfter the 16-1 start, Minnesota would eventually lead 20-3, its largest lead of the night. We were playing the exact game plan we wanted coming in, Towns said. .We were playing defense at a high level. We were playing quick, the way we wanted to play.FIRST-AID LISTMemphis played without F Brandan Wright (left ankle) and Chandler Parsons (right knee rehab), who were inactive. G Tony Allen (right knee) dressed, but was ruled out before the game.UP NEXTTimberwolves: Continue on the road to open their season, facing the Sacramento Kings on Saturday.Grizzlies: Will follow their home opener with their first road game of the season, facing the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden on Saturday. San Francisco 49ers Store . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. 49ers Jerseys 2021 .J. -- Marshawn Lynch said Thursday it will be good to get back to football after the Seattle quiet talking running back wrapped up his final mandatory media session of Super Bowl week. https://www.49ersjerseysale.com/ . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. Stitched 49ers Jerseys . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. San Francisco 49ers Shirts . -- Ken Appleby made 32 saves for his first shutout of the season to lead the Oshawa Generals to a 2-0 win over the Belleville Bulls on Wednesday in Ontario Hockey League action. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs ground game could look quite similar to the way it finished last season when they play the San Diego Chargers in their opener on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.Thats because Chiefs coach Andy Reid acknowledged Monday that running back Jamaal Charles is a stretch to play after surgery to repair the ACL in his right knee. Charles has been practicing for weeks but did not participate in any preseason games as he works his way back to game speed.Jamaal has to keep working through this, Reid said. Well see how it goes.The four-time Pro Bowl selection tore the ligament in a loss to Chicago in Week 5, and had surgery shortly thereafter. He was back on the field for a portion of the Chiefs mandatory June minicamp, and that raised hopes Charles would be available for the opener against San Diego.But with several capable backups, the Chiefs appear in no rush to get him on the field.I am full-go right now. Im out here, Im practicing, and I cant be happier about where Im at, Charles said last week. Its all going to come when it comes. Its just practice right now and Im happy to be out here. I could be sitting on the couch watching TV.The Chiefs kept Knile Davis as their third running back behind Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware when rosters were trimmed over the weekend, giving them insurance if Charles is unavailable. The trio was solid in his absence last season, leading the Chiefs to 10 straight wins and the playoffs.West ran for 634 yards and four touchdowns. Ware ran for 403 yards and six touchdowns. Both were impressive enough that they earned new contracts in the offseason.The big question was whether Davis would stick. Hes had problems with fumbles throughout his career, and had been passed over by West and Ware last season. But he had a solid training camp, and his ability to return kicks made him a bonus for special teams.At the end of the day, I think Kniile had a really good camp, said general manager John Dorsey, who drafted him in the third round three years ago.dddddddddddd He earned himself a roster spot.In other news, Reid said Phillip Gaines will start at cornerback opposite 2015 Defensive Rookie of the Year Marcus Peters. Gaines is coming off his own torn ACL, but has been back on the field for a while, and the third-year pro at least brings a modicum of experience to a youthful bunch of defensive backs.Of the Chiefs six cornerbacks, none has been in the league more than two years.Im confident in the guys, but its a matter of them doing it, Reid said. We have to see it in games and see how they do, but theyre surely capable of doing a nice job in there.Reid also confirmed that pass rusher Tamba Hali and safety Eric Berry will be available against San Diego, even though neither of the veterans participated in a preseason game.Hali had surgery on his balky knees in the offseason, and the Chiefs intend to treat him with kid gloves all season. Without star linebacker Justin Houston, recovering from his own knee surgery, the Chiefs will rely on the 32-year-old Hali to provide some kind of pressure on the quarterback.Meanwhile, Berry missed most of training camp after negotiations on a long-term contract broke down and he refused to sign his franchise tender. The All-Pro has only been with the team about a week.Well get them in there. We know we have guys that can spot them if needed, Reid said. I dont think Tamba will play the full load. Well rotate Tamba. Just by sheer age and wear and tear on the body, hell be in a rotation. If you keep him in there, hell go 8,000 miles an hour.Then with Eric, its just a matter of seeing where hes at and how hes doing.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '