Sunday: Spurs (60-19) at Timberwolves (33-47)-Game time 5:00 pm CST

[Spurs Brazil]

Sunday: Spurs (60-19) at Timberwolves (33-47)

Web Posted: 04/16/2006 12:00 AM CDT

San Antonio Express-News

Spurs scouting report: The Spurs won their first three meetings with Minnesota, including a 90-88 victory at the Target Center on Dec. 15. ... Brent Barry has gone a combined 8 for 26, including 2 for 11 in Thursday's loss to Orlando, while starting in place of Manu Ginobili the past three games. ... Nazr Mohammed played two minutes in Thursday's second half. Coach Gregg Popovich, seeking better defense on Orlando forward Dwight Howard, started the third quarter with Rasho Nesterovic.

Spurs injuries: Tony Parker (stomach virus) is probable. Ginobili (left calf and shin contusions) is questionable.


Spurs projected inactive list: Sean Marks and Melvin Sanders.


Timberwolves scouting report: Minnesota lost 89-77 in Indiana on Friday night. Kevin Garnett and Ricky Davis haven't played in the past four games. There were reports the NBA was upset with Minnesota for sitting its two best players, but commissioner David Stern said Thursday he had no problem with them not playing. ... This is the second year in a row the Timberwolves won't make the playoffs. They have lost five of their past seven games.


Timberwolves injuries: Rashad McCants (sprained right ankle) is probable. Anthony Carter (sore right foot), Ricky Davis (strained left groin), Kevin Garnett (right knee tendinitis) are questionable. Troy Hudson (sore right ankle) is out.


Timberwolves projected inactive list: Hudson, Carter and Davis.



SPURS
Starters MAGIC
Starters
No. Player Ps. Ht. Yrs. No. Player Ps. Ht. Yrs.
12 Bruce Bowen F 6-7 10th 9 Justin Reed F 6-8 2nd
21 Tim Duncan F 6-11 9th 41 Eddie Griffin F 6-10 4th
2 Nazr Mohammed C 6-10 8th 30 Mark Blount C 7-0 6th
20 Manu Ginobili G 6-6 4th 55 Marko Jaric G 6-7 4th
9 Tony Parker G 6-2 5th 3 Marcus Banks G 6-2 3rd
Reserves Reserves
17 Brent Barry G 6-7 11th 31 Ricky Davis G 6-7 8th
4 Michael Finley G/F 6-7 11th 12 Ronald Dupree F 6-7 3rd
5 Robert Horry F 6-10 14th 21 Kevin Garnett F 6-11 11th
8 Rasho Nesterovic C 7-0 8th 23 Trenton Hassell G 6-5 5th
7 Fabricio Oberto F/C 6-10 1st 35 Mark Madsen F 6-9 6th
14 Beno Udrih G 6-3 2nd 1 Rashad McCants G 6-4 1st
31 Nick Van Exel G 6-1 13th 6 Bracey Wright G 6-3 1st

Coach: Gregg Popovich Coach: Brian Hill


Last meeting: The Spurs beat Minnesota 102-88 on Jan. 28 at the AT&T Center.


Key matchup: Tim Duncan vs. Mark Blount/Eddie Griffin. Duncan may not get the opportunity to measure himself against Kevin Garnett. His longtime rival has missed the past four games and Minnesota may want to hold him out until season's end. Regardless of whom he faces, Duncan's biggest challenge will be trying to look as good as he did Thursday against Orlando. The 31 points he scored were his most since Dec. 20. His goal now to is find some consistency. If he can find his rhythm before the playoffs begin, the Spurs obviously will feel better about their chance to repeat as champions.


- Johnny Ludden

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spurs 97
Wolves 82

[bnwhuxley]

This will ultimately not be a blowout. Spurs should get a comfortable lead, then their reserves will play many minutes against whoever the Wolves decide to put out.

The Wolves are tanking. They DON'T want to win this game.

That is, unless KG throws a jealousy fit.

[Eddy from Austin]

Spurs 100
Wolves 85

[BlitzKriegBop]

Let's make this quick and painless.

[Malice]

Just wake me up when the playoffs start.

[scol]

SPURS should win easy. Regardless of the score I want to see solid D and O and a set rotation going into the last week of the season.

It seems like months ago that Tim, Tony and Manu were all on the floor at the same time

[Dark Deity]

Spurs should win by 45 but they won't. :|

But a win is a win.

[Lord Deimos]

God GET THIS REGULAR SEASON CRAP OVER WITH

Spurs 88
TW 83

[Zarasthrsa]

Originally Posted by scol

SPURS should win easy. Regardless of the score I want to see solid D and O and a set rotation going into the last week of the season.

It seems like months ago that Tim, Tony and Manu were all on the floor at the same time

exactly let's try to build some momentum going into post season. A first round matchup with sacramento is going to require a certain level of execution. I dont think the Spurs current level bodes well for that first round.

[spurscrazed]

San Antonio (60-19) at Minnesota (33-47) 6:00 pm EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The San Antonio Spurs have a chance to claim a division crown for the fifth time in their last six seasons Sunday when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Entering the contest, San Antonio needs one win or a loss by Dallas to clinch the Southwest Division title and the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. Neither the Spurs nor the Mavericks are rolling toward the finish line.

After Thursday's 92-80 loss to Orlando at home, San Antonio has dropped three of its last five games. Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 31 points, 13 rebounds and six assists. His teammates combined to shoot 39 percent (21-of-54) from the floor and San Antonio was hurt by 16 turnovers.

The Timberwolves finished a 1-2 road trip with an 89-77 loss to Indiana on Friday. They are assured of finishing with their lowest win total in a full season since 1995-96, when they went 26-56.

The Spurs have won the first three meetings between the teams this season.


http://www.nba.com/games/20060416/SASMIN/preview.html

_________________________

Spurs will win this one.


Spurs 98
TWlves 88

Go Spurs Go

[Spurs Brazil]

Spurs with 4TOs in 3 minutes

Halftime
Spurs 56
Wolves 35

TP 11pts
TD 7pts 7rebs
Manu 7pts 6rebs

[mckennaspur1]

TPups showing what it's like to play out your string toward the lottery. We Spur fans would do well to watch and be grateful for what we've got going.

[LAsucksForever]

Minnesota - Garnett = Atlanta Hawks

[DizzG]

Spurs resting some players

Parker sitting and Nazr didnt start the second half either

Timmmaay with the 3!

[Spurs Brazil]

TD 333333333333333333333, 2 games after TP dunk

Beno on fire

[panacea]

And I thought the Lakers/Suns game was a blow-out.

Well, rest the guys that need it and win.

[Cloud786]

Half the third and all of the 4th quarter was garbage time. We let that 31 point lead go all the way down to 10, but held on.


Can we finally win a back to back tomorrow?

[YoMamaIsCallin]

Beno is the Bud Light Impact Player of the Game.

[mckennaspur1]

Originally Posted by YoMamaIsCallin

Beno is the Bud Light Impact Player of the Game.

Was he drinking a Bud Light during the game?

[spursfan9]

why did td shoot a three.

was he that wide open, shot clock low? or is he just mocking and making fun of minesota?

[DizzG]

because he can

[bnwhuxley]

Do your part, Utah! Beat Dallas today, and we'll let you win tomorrow! It's B2B anyway!

[LAsucksForever]

The box score reads like an exhibition game. Every Spur played at least 10 minutes, scored at least 4 points, and grabbed at least 1 rebound. Ten Spurs recorded assists and 9 attempted 3-pointers.

[Lord Deimos]

Originally Posted by DizzG

because he can

"I'm Tim Duncan, B!tch"

*swish*

[YoMamaIsCallin]

Spurs get 57 points from bench, beat T-Wolves

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The San Antonio Spurs moved closer to clinching first place in the Western Conference, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 103-90 on Sunday behind 57 points from their bench.

Tim Duncan had 10 points and eight rebounds in 20 minutes for the Spurs (61-19), who left the arena needing one more win or one more Dallas loss to seal the Southwest Division title and secure home-court advantage until the NBA Finals with the West's top seed.

The Mavericks (59-21) hosted Utah later Sunday night.

Tony Parker had 11 points in 17 minutes for San Antonio, which met little resistance from the depleted Timberwolves. Minnesota's two best players, Kevin Garnett and Ricky Davis, have been shut down for the season with minor injuries to let first-year coach Dwane Casey and the front office further evaluate a handful of young players with postseason qualification no longer a worry.

One of those under heavy scrutiny has been point guard Marcus Banks, acquired three months ago in the big trade with Boston that brought Davis to Minnesota and sent Wally Szczerbiak to the Celtics.

Though he didn't do much on defense to slow Parker, Banks had 25 points on 10-for-11 shooting from the foul line. Rashad McCants scored 20 points, and rookie Bracey Wright added 13 points.

With NBA rebounding leader Garnett gone, the Spurs owned a 46-29 edge on the boards and did whatever they wanted to on offense. Reserves like Beno Udrih (15 points in 22 minutes), Brent Barry (14 points in 22 minutes) and Fabricio Oberto were given extended time.

San Antonio, which hosts Utah on Monday and finishes the regular season at Houston on Wednesday, can break the franchise record for victories by winning the last two games. The 1994-95 team went 62-20.

The Wolves (33-48), meanwhile, are on the way to their worst finish since they went 26-56 in 1995-96, Garnett's rookie year. They play once more, against Memphis on Wednesday.

Announced attendance was 15,237 for this sleepy game that looked more like a preseason scrimmage in terms of intensity and sounded like one, too, in terms of crowd noise.

Duncan opened the second half with a 3-pointer to put the Spurs up 59-35, and they built a lead as big as 31 points before Banks and McCants brought Minnesota back against San Antonio's second string.

McCants capped a 22-9 Timberwolves run with a 3-pointer that closed the third quarter.

These teams were once real rivals, a competition highlighted by the Duncan-Garnett matchup that bloomed in a first-round playoff series in 2001. These days, with Minnesota on its way to the lottery for a second straight year, there's little buzz.

Especially without Garnett.

"He and Timmy always have some great battles. ... To not see him on the court is very strange, knowing what a competitor he is," San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said before the game.

Game notes
Manu Ginobili returned from a three-game absence (bruised calf and shin) to score 14 points in 24 minutes for the Spurs. ... The Timberwolves have reduced season-ticket prices on more than 12,200 seats for next season. Nearly 5,000 seats will cost more.

[Pizbo]

Spurs get 57 points from bench, beat T-Wolves

LMAO pwned

[pjjrfan]

Well, it's back to square one for the Wolves. They have some talent, but what they need IMO is a tougher coach, a gritty vet, in the mold of a Mario Elie, a strong rebounder and inside scorer to help Garnett and free him to do his thing outside the paint. Right now they have a lot of talented players but I just don't see any direction for this team. The Spurs did seem to be playing an exhibition, going through the motions and just basically controlling the game even when they had mental lapses.