The Minnesota Timberwolves finally built a lead too big to lose.

That their first victory of the season came against a weakened lineup mattered little after two stinging road losses to begin the year.

Zach LaVine scored 31 points and hit five 3-pointers, and the Timberwolves led by as many as 40 points in a 116-80 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night.

Gorgui Dieng scored 17 points for the Timberwolves (1-2), who led by 17 points in the opener against Memphis and 18 against Sacramento before losing both games.

“More focus. Stop messing around,” LaVine said of the difference. “We know what we did the last two games. Don’t let it happen again.”

Memphis coach David Fizdale decided to rest Mike Conley and Marc Gasol on the front end of a back-to-back that finishes at home on Wednesday night against New Orleans. Tony Allen made his season debut for the Grizzlies after missing the first three games of the season with a right knee injury.

Conley and Gasol are both coming off surgeries, so the Grizzlies are playing it safe in the middle of a four-game in five-night stretch.

“We just thought it was best that tonight, you know, we rested them and then you load up and you try to get a win at home tomorrow,” Fizdale said.

Memphis shot just 36.5 percent and turned the ball over 22 times.

Rookie Kris Dunn had 10 points, six assists and five steals in his first career start after Ricky Rubio sprained his right elbow in their last game. Andrew Wiggins scored 17 points and Dieng shot 8 for 9 one day after signing a four-year, $64 million contract extension.

“When the ball moves and the spacing is good, we’re going to score,” Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau said.

Deyonta Davis led Memphis with 17 points.