|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME FLOW
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs put it
all on the line -- the free throw line -- in a Western Conference
matchup against Minnesota.
|  | | Minnesota Timberwolves' Kevin Garnett had 31 points and 16 rebounds, but the Spurs prevailed. |
Duncan converted 12 of 16 free throws and finished with 26
points, and the Spurs shot 30-for-47 from the line and beat the
Timberwolves 91-85 Friday night.
"To get 47 free throws is great," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich
said. "To make 30 is not too good."
Derek Anderson was 9-for-11 from the line and added 21 points as
San Antonio moved into first place in the Midwest Division. The
Spurs are a half-game ahead of Utah and 3½ games in front of
Minnesota.
The Spurs have won three straight and 11 of their last 12 games.
Minnesota has dropped three in a row, all against conference foes.
"We're beating each other up out here in the West," said
Popovich. "Every game is a battle."
Duncan agreed.
"You have to bring your 'A' game or you're going home with a
loss," said Duncan, who had 12 rebounds.
Kevin Garnett had 31 points and 16 rebounds for the
Timberwolves, who had won a franchise-record 11 straight before the
All-Star break.
"We're vulnerable right now," Garnett said. "There is a
target on our back and we have to recognize that.
"That step we had before the break, we have to get that back."
Minnesota shot just 37.2 percent (32-for-86) in losing their
first home game since Jan. 15 (six games). Wally Szczerbiak scored
10 points, but shot just 4-for-15.
The Wolves will have a chance to get back on track Sunday
against Vancouver, which is winless in 11 games at the Target
Center.
"We've got to come out hungry," Garnett said. "It starts
tomorrow in practice."
Minnesota opened the fourth quarter with a 13-8 run. Garnett
scored seven points in the outburst as the Timberwolves closed
within 81-77 at the 6:53 mark. But David Robinson hit two free
throws and Anderson hit a jumper to push the lead back to eight.
The teams traded baskets twice before Terrell Brandon hit a
jumper and LaPhonso Ellis hit a layup to make it 89-85 with 1:10
left.
But Anderson and Terry Porter each made 1 of 2 free throws down
the stretch and the Wolves missed their last four shots.
"I was in there swinging," said Ellis, who had 11 points and
nine rebounds. "(But) it was one of those nights is seemed the
harder we tried the worse it got."
San Antonio made 18-of-25 free throws attempts in the first half
and led 49-45 at the break.
Garnett made more field goals (8) than the rest of the
Timberwolves (7) in the half, finishing with 22 points on 8-of-13
shooting.
"We did a good job taking away the easy buckets," Robinson
said. "It's a lot harder to win with jumpshots."
Anderson scored nine points in the third quarter as the Spurs
extended their lead to 73-64.
Game notes
San Antonio leads Minnesota 2-1 in the season series. ...
The Spurs played the first game of a three-games-in-four-days road
trip that goes through Minnesota, Toronto and Milwaukee. ... Terry
Porter, who had 13 points, has started the last 10 games with the
Spurs going 9-1. ... Minnesota had won five straight home games
against San Antonio. The Timberwolves last lost at home to the
Spurs on March 18, 1998, 92-71. ... Duncan and Denver's Antonio
McDyess entered Friday's games tied for the NBA lead with 39
double-doubles. Garnett and Sacramento's Chris Webber were third
with 33.
 Send this story to a friend
|
|
ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
San Antonio Clubhouse
Minnesota Clubhouse
RECAPS
Philadelphia 108
LA Clippers 93
LA Lakers 99
Charlotte 94
New York 114
New Jersey 104
Orlando 108
Houston 93
San Antonio 91
Minnesota 85
Vancouver 92
Golden State 79
Sacramento 117
Denver 84
AUDIO/VIDEO
 David Robinson and the Spurs did not allow the T-Wolves easy hoops in their victory on Friday.
wav: 112 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Tim Duncan credits the Spurs' win over Minnesota to their defense.
wav: 122 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
|
