Spurs 95, Timberwolves 82

Mongo, neighbor girl(Debbie) and I will be going...........

Timberwolves-Spurs Preview
By AMY JO WALKER, STATS Writer
Posted Dec 12 2006 5:30PM

2006-07 Stats at a GlanceThe San Antonio Spurs own one of the NBA's best records thanks to a stifling defense and a dominant forward. To improve that mark they'll have to get past a surging Minnesota Timberwolves squad finding success with similar attributes.

A pair of the league's best defenses square off Wednesday when the Spurs host the Timberwolves in the first meeting between the teams this season.

San Antonio (16-6) is holding teams to just 91.3 points this season while Minnesota (10-9) has been nearly as good, allowing 92.3 a contest. The Spurs have given up 100 or more points just three times while the Timberwolves have allowed that mark on four occasions.

San Antonio had one of those rare outings Sunday in a 106-99 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, but bounced back with a strong showing Monday in beating the Los Angeles Clippers 103-81.

``Since I've been with the Spurs, we've never had two bad games in a row, so I know we were going to show a lot of pride tonight and play very hard,'' said Spurs second-leading scorer Tony Parker, who had 21 points Monday.

``We came out very strong, had a great start and we played like that basically the whole game.''

Brent Barry scored 24 points off the bench, including five 3-pointers, while Manu Ginobili scored 18 in his first start since Nov. 24 for the Spurs, who have won five of six. Leading scorer Tim Duncan had 17 points, six assists and five rebounds, continuing to fuel San Antonio's offensive attack with 21.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.

Kevin Garnett has been just as consistent for the Timberwolves this season, averaging 21.6 points and 12.0 rebounds while recording a league-leading 17 double-doubles. His all-around effort Saturday helped Minnesota win its season-high fourth straight, 91-81 at Chicago.

``We're making strides,'' said Garnett, who had 18 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, four steals and three blocks. ``As a team, collectively, we're forming some chemistry. It's no definite that we'd continue to perform like this.''

Point guard Mike James has been making some of the biggest strides, averaging 19.8 points in the last five games after scoring 10.8 through the first 14 contests this season.

James and Ricky Davis each scored 15 points Saturday to help the Timberwolves open their three-game road trip on a positive note, but continuing that success may be difficult.

The Spurs have won the last five matchups between the teams in San Antonio, holding the Timberwolves to 81.2 points, and boast a 29-8 all-time mark against them there. San Antonio swept Minnesota in all four overall matchups last season and has won eight of the last 10 in the series.

Minnesota may still be without forward Mark Madsen, who is day-to-day with a partial dislocation of his right shoulder. Garnett hopes the Timberwolves will soon have a new face, however, as he has expressed his desire to play alongside Philadelphia's Allen Iverson, who has requested a trade.

``Who would be opposed to that?'' Garnett said.

Jackie, I hope you and my boy Mongo have some fun! Go Spurs! If I stay up late enough I'll catch some of it from my Sao Paulo hotel room (11 PM local time start on ESPN International).

ooooh Tony's 3 pointer at the end of the 3rd...

Great game! The fisrt half was kinda sucky but a win is a win.

One of the best plays was when Bonner came in right beofre the end of a quarter and hit a three - I called for him to take that shot and he made it

Spurs 95, Timberwolves 82
Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Tim Duncan scored 24 points and Tony Parker added 23 to lift the San Antonio Spurs to a 95-82 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night.

Kevin Garnett and Mark Blount each had 19 points for Minnesota, which scored a season-low 26 points in the second half. Randy Foye added 15 points for the Timberwolves and Garnett grabbed 12 rebounds.
Minnesota committed 17 of its 23 turnovers in the second half and went 1-of-11 from 3-point range.

The Spurs used a 10-2 run to get within 56-48 at halftime. Nearly halfway through the third quarter Minnesota had scored just one point and the Spurs were within one.

A 3-pointer by Brent Barry gave the Spurs a 70-69 lead and a 3 by Parker made it 73-71.

The 15 points scored by Minnesota in the third quarter were a season low for the team.

The Timberwolves continued the trend in the fourth, scoring just five points three-fourths of the way through the final period.

Parker and Duncan combined for 12 points in the quarter, one more than Minnesota managed as the Timberwolves again registered a season low.

Manu Ginobili added 12 points for the Spurs.

Notes: The Spurs have won six straight home games against Minnesota. ... The Timberwolves and Spurs meet again Jan. 3 in Minnesota. ... The Timberwolves are back at .500 (10-10). ... Minnesota G Mike James fouled out in the fourth quarter with just four points.

'Polite' Pop Gets Spurs to Turn It Up
By ELIZABETH WHITE 12.13.06, 11:58 PM ET



Gregg Popovich politely asked the San Antonio Spurs to turn up the defensive effort in the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night. They listened to their coach, holding the Timberwolves to a season-low 26 points over the final 24 minutes in a 95-82 victory.

"I just asked the guys if it wasn't that much of a problem or an inconvenience if they picked up the pressure and played a little more aggressively," Popovich said, recounting his halftime speech. "That might be a good idea."

The Timberwolves committed 17 turnovers in the second half against the suddenly defensive-minded Spurs.

"He asked us, 'Please, guys. It's a great opportunity to go play harder,'" Spurs guard Manu Ginobili said. "He's always so polite."

Tim Duncan, who said "we really appreciate it and responded to" Popovich's talk, scored 24 points and Tony Parker added 23 for San Antonio.

Kevin Garnett and Mark Blount each had 19 points for Minnesota. Randy Foye added 15 points for the Timberwolves and Garnett grabbed 12 rebounds.

"I thought we had an excellent game in the first half," Timberwolves coach Dwane Casey said. "In the second half they turned up the juice and we didn't respond. ... That is the best pressure I've seen all year."

Still, Duncan saw the glass half-empty.

"More important than the defensive effort in the second half was the lack of defensive effort in the first half," he said. "We were horrible in the first half. ... We put ourselves in a hole."

Aside from being plagued by turnovers, Minnesota went 1-of-11 from 3-point range. And Garnett only scored two points - both free throws - in the second half.

"They were double-teaming him. Crowding him," Casey said. "They did a great job of getting the ball out of our offensive point guards' hands."

The Spurs used a 10-2 run to get within 56-48 at halftime. More than halfway through the third quarter Minnesota had scored just one point and the Spurs were within one.

A 3-pointer by Brent Barry gave the Spurs a 70-69 lead and a 3 by Parker made it 73-71.

The 15 points scored by Minnesota in the third quarter were a season low, but the mark dropped 12 minutes later.

The Timberwolves had scored just five points three-fourths of the way through the final period. Parker and Duncan combined for 12 points in the quarter, one more than Minnesota managed in registering a new season low.

"We live and learn from these things," Garnett said. "I'd rather it happen now than later."

Notes:@ The Spurs have won six straight home games against Minnesota. ... The Timberwolves and Spurs meet again Jan. 3 in Minnesota. ... The Timberwolves are back at .500 (10-10). ... The Spurs are now 17-6. ... Minnesota G Mike James fouled out in the fourth quarter with just four points.


Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Wow that game was really sucking there for a while. That is funny that they were saying Pop was all polite at half time. I was sure they got a tongue lashing. Tony was amazing tonight, Timmy was Timmy and Francisco did a great job on KG. Good win.

i didn't get to watch the game tonight because i was watching NBC "THE BIGGEST LOSER" FINALE watching my best friend TIFFANY do her thang, she was representing texas (just thought i'd share that with yall) ANYHOW, I'M SO very HAPPY TO HEAR ABOUT THE SPURS WINNING, thanx to the ppl who write about the games, i was able to capture the moments with visuals in my head SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH!! ~~GO SPURS GO~~

The Spurs did great closeing out that game last night. I think pop told the guys to play better defence, and they did. I got a little woried when the T wolfs got on fire in the game but the Spurs played great at the end towin the game.