Foye broke a tie with a courageous three-pointer in the final minute, then knocked away Mayo's layup at the other end, earning the Timberwolves an energizing 94-87 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in the FedEx Forum.

"His block on O.J. was just ridiculous," said Wolves coach Kevin McHale, who knows something about shot blocking. "He absolutely skyrocketed out there."

The Wolves aren't skyrocketing up the standings yet, but they are playing with much more confidence and cohesion. They built a double-digit lead in the first eight minutes and never fell behind, limited the Grizzlies to 41.6 percent shooting, and won for the fifth time in seven games.

It's the first time since Jan. 15-18, 2007, that the Timberwolves have won three straight games -- and the last-place Oklahoma City Thunder visit Target Center tonight.

Mayo, traded by McHale on draft day last June in return for a package that included fellow rookie Kevin Love, scored 20 points, to go with the 23 he had against Minnesota last month. But he and the Grizzlies lost both games.

This time, Foye, who scored 10 of his game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter, was the reason why.

"He's a gutty, competitive kid," McHale said.

His three-pointer was proof enough, coming after Memphis put together a 12-2 run in the final four minutes to tie the score. Memphis' Marc Gasol spun into the lane and hit a 5-footer while being fouled by Al Jefferson to complete the comeback with 1:30 to play.

But after each team squandered a possession, Foye squared up to the basket from 26 feet away and shot over Mayo, sinking his fourth three-pointer of the night (on seven tries) to put Minnesota in front once more with 40.6 seconds left.

"I knew it wasn't over after I hit the three," Foye said. "I was like, 'Man, I have to get a stop.' "

Mayo gave him that chance. The rookie found a seam in Minnesota's zone defense and got to the rim for what appeared to be a wide-open layup.

"He attacked the big man and went around him, and I just met him at the spot," said Foye, who also made a game-saving block Saturday night in Chicago. "That's where I was supposed to be on the defense, and he came right at me. I just jumped up and spiked the ball."

The only person who might have jumped higher was Foye's coach, who rushed to center court to congratulate him. "He put his head up by the doggone rim," McHale marveled. "He really got up there. You kidding me? Wow."

Even better, Foye tipped the ball to Sebastian Telfair, who relayed the ball up the floor to Ryan Gomes for a put-away layup. Game over.

"A great ending play," McHale said. "That's what we talk about all the time: When you're on the road, you're going to have to make some game-ending plays."

Another scare for Miller: Mike Miller reached for a rebound in the second quarter and landed awkwardly -- right on his already-sore right ankle. McHale might have cringed more than his injured player.

"(I thought) 'Not again. Please,' " the coach said. "The poor guy has really been getting dinged up."

But Miller, who missed four games after spraining the ankle in early December and then five more after reinjuring it, was able to return to the game, albeit gingerly at first. He played 28 minutes and vowed to be in uniform again tonight.

"It's going to hurt a little bit, but it's all right," said Miller, who was making his first appearance in the city where he played six seasons until being traded last June.

Miller made only 1 of 4 shots, but that's to be expected after his layoff, McHale said. "You don't play much, it's hard to get comfortable," he said. "He'll have a couple of shots go in, and it'll free him up to get going."

Briefly: Minnesota shot 61 percent in the first quarter, recording assists on nine of its 11 baskets, a reflection of how well the offense is working together.

Jefferson, who scored a career-high 38 points when the teams met Dec. 29, had half that many this time but added 12 rebounds to go with his 19 points.

Love had six points and seven rebounds in his first game in what was almost his NBA home.

Former Timberwolf Marko Jaric suited up but did not play for the Grizzlies, his 24th DNP of the season.