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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- The Minnesota Timberwolves almost pulled off a perfect 10-day, five-game road trip. Problem was, their last game was in San Antonio.
|  | | Tim Duncan, who led the Spurs with 20 points, lofts a shot over Kevin Garnett's outstretched arm. |
The Spurs extended their winning streak to three games in the matchup of Midwest Division contenders, beating the Timberwolves 92-80 Thursday night.
Minnesota lost for only the fourth time in 20 games and for the
second time in its last 12 road games. The T-Wolves had won six
road games in a row.
"It was just one of those nights you are going to have in this
league," Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said. "I could tell a
little bit at shootaround this morning that we perhaps we didn't
quite have the same edge we have had. Once the game started, they
did a good job of capitalizing on that."
Tim Duncan, who did not score in the fourth quarter, led a balanced San Antonio attack with 20 points. David Robinson added 19 points and Avery Johnson had 18.
Duncan added 14 rebounds and Robinson 12, and the pair combined to block nine shots. Duncan had five.
"This is a huge win for us -- we're starting to get in our groove," Duncan said. "We're finding our way back confidence-wise, feeling a lot better about ourselves."
Kevin Garnett lead the Timberwolves with 26 points, six more
than the other four Minnesota starters combined. Bobby Jackson had
12 points off the bench.
"We didn't really look that tired, they just overpowered us on
the boards," Minnesota guard Terrell Brandon said. "They made us
take some forced shots and played us a little different than the
last time we played them. I had to fight through a lot more traps
tonight than in the past."
After holding only a 49-47 early in the third quarter, the Spurs
maintained a double-figure lead after Jerome Kersey's fast-break
dunk put them ahead 67-57 with 3:50 left in the third.
"I thought the players were magnificent in their aggressiveness
and commitment to defense," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "It
was special to watch them play that kind of defense."
Kersey, starting just his fourth game this season, finished with
a season-high 14 points in 19 minutes.
"I'm just trying to do what I can for the team," Kersey said.
"It feels good to go out there and help set the tone for the
game."
The Spurs jumped to a 35-26 lead after hitting 13 of 18 shots in
the first quarter and then held the Wolves to 19, 18 and 17 points
in the last three quarters.
Game notes
The Spurs and forward Sean Elliott are at odds over when he
can return to action. Elliott, who had a kidney transplant Aug. 16,
has been cleared by his own doctors to begin participating in
full-contact practices. The Spurs say they will not clear him until
the team's doctors do more research, but he could be practicing
next week if an agreement is reached. "No, I am not happy with
this," Elliott told the San Antonio Express-News. "Once attorneys
get involved everthing goes to hell in a handbasket."
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Minnesota Clubhouse
San Antonio Clubhouse
Doctors, team officials discuss Elliott's comeback with Spurs
RECAPS
Charlotte 117
Detroit 102
Cleveland 102
Orlando 90
Dallas 99
LA Clippers 90
Golden State 115
Houston 110
San Antonio 92
Minnesota 80
Portland 85
Utah 75
Vancouver 108
New Jersey 106
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