San Antonio Spurs/Minnesota Timberwolves NBA recap on ESPN

Garnett had a season-high 32 points, 12 rebounds and two crucial baskets in overtime as Minnesota survived another fourth-quarter failure and beat the Spurs 99-94.

Garnett drained consecutive jumpers over Tim Duncan to give the Timberwolves a three-point lead with 52.9 seconds left.

"Kevin played very much in control. He was really at peace and calm out there," said Minnesota coach Flip Saunders. "He showed a lot of poise."

Garnett, who has already been whistled for five technical fouls this season, got into a post-practice scuffle with Wally Szczerbiak earlier in the week. The burdens of Malik Sealy's death and the Joe Smith illegal-contract saga had many believing the Timberwolves' franchise player was beginning to get stressed out.

"I'm fine," Garnett insisted after the Wolves' win Wednesday over Golden State.

Garnett said Friday he thought he had too much energy in the teams' last meeting, a 103-91 loss for Minnesota.

"Tonight, I wanted to be in a calm mode and at the same time bring positive energy so I'd still be strong in the fourth quarter," Garnett said. "I was real in control. Sometimes when you're amped up, you don't have the same thought process."

Duncan didn't want to focus on the individual matchup but did credit Garnett's performance.

"It's fun to play against him," Duncan said. "He's an incredible player, and he comes out with energy every night."

Terry Porter, who had 14 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter, missed a chance to tie it against his former team when his 3-pointer from the corner rimmed out. The ball went out of bounds, and Sam Mitchell's two free throws put the game away.

"He always seems to make some big baskets," Saunders said of Porter. "He can do that."

Duncan had 16 of his 22 points after halftime as San Antonio forced Minnesota into a familiar fourth-quarter collapse.

On Wednesday, the Wolves let Golden State go on a 16-0 run in the fourth quarter before managing a 92-90 victory. Minnesota has held leads of 10 points or more in every game this year but is only 5-4.

Minnesota prevailed Friday because of its defense.

"We put ourselves on the defensive end and just played hard," said Chauncey Billups, pounding his hand into his fist.

The Wolves used spurts of 12-0 and 20-7 to build a double-digit advantage in the third but shot 5-for-16 and made eight turnovers in the fourth, going 6:42 without a basket until Rasho Nesterovic's short hook tied the game at 79 with 3:08 to go.

Sean Elliott's wide-open layup tied the game at 84 with 14.5 seconds left.

Minnesota had the final possession but Billups failed to get off a shot. San Antonio failed to capitalize in the extra period on the steam it built in the fourth-quarter.

"Things just didn't go down for us," Duncan said. "It came down to the end, and we couldn't make the one stop we needed."

Garnett had 19 points in the first half while limiting Duncan to just six. Chauncey Billups added 16 points and 13 assists for Minnesota. The Wolves had 30 assists.

Together, the Spurs' twin towers were just 16-for-38 from the floor. David Robinson is 22 for his last 55 from the field, spanning five games. He averaged 20.8 points in four games against Minnesota last year, but Rasho Nesterovic held him to 10 points Friday.

"We all played better than last time," said Nesterovic, who is in his second season. "Last year for me, it was like the first time against everyone. At least now, I know what to expect."

Entering Friday's game, San Antonio ranked eighth in the league in free throw shooting (76 percent), but the Spurs were just 5-for-12 through the first two quarters and ended up 10-of-22.

"That tells the tale," Popovich said. "When you go on the road, there are three things that are paramount: shooting enough free throws, making enough free throws and not turning the ball over. If you violate one or more, you're going to be in trouble."

Game notes
Duncan has recorded a double-double in every game this season. ... Terrell Brandon missed his third straight game with a sprained left ankle. In Brandon's absence, the Wolves have committed 61 turnovers but are 3-0. ... Minnesota won its third straight game.

NBA Scoreboard

San Antonio Clubhouse

Minnesota Clubhouse

RECAPS
Golden State 92
Indiana 90

Philadelphia 94
Miami 73

Boston 106
Atlanta 99

Detroit 96
Charlotte 89

Minnesota 99
San Antonio 94

Milwaukee 89
Cleveland 76

New York 90
Phoenix 85

Dallas 99
Seattle 95

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