Game Blog: Spurs @ Wolves - Nov. 24

[Spurologist]

clean play by Minnesota there

[Frankie23]

Foooouuuulllll!!

[JustinJDW]

I don't give a shit how ugly or gritty it is, lets just win this game and go home with the streak intact. Jesus Fucking Christ.

[BlairForceDejuan]

BBall gods, let us honor you with a 12 game winning streak!

[Crookshanks]

Well, they ran the clock down, but didn't get a score or a foul. Arggghhhhhhh

[Pistons < Spurs]

WTF.

32 triples from the Spurs? And Duncan only has 9 shot attempts? C'mon....

[DieHardSpursFan1537]

Oh shit, this isn't over yet. Finish up Spurs!

[peskypesky]

double overtime is not our friend. fuck.

[Cessation]

better than being down 3 like in regulation

[spurs1990]

Double OT spells doom for Dallas

[BanditHiro]

I fucking knew we would not get a call if he drove fucking refs!

it was a good block fucking wolves playing clutch

[Whisky Dog]

2009 Playoffs.

That says a lot.

[CFH]

Can't watch

[slick'81]

tolliver with the ultimate revenge lmao

[Pauleta14]

Tonight ref REALLY do't respect the spurs...

[Libri]

Spurs have taken 32 threes.

[ffadicted]

do NOT give up a 3, for gods sake

[Chase_the_Bass]

This game is intense.

[024]

rather the spurs win this through defense.

[Spurologist]

Guard the 3 pt line.

[BlairForceDejuan]

manu is unreal

[Obstructed_View]

Ball game.

[Technique]

Rofl gggggggg

[blkroadrunners]

Manu's everywhere

[CFH]

Manuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu with the defense!

[BanditHiro]

here we go adding more time

[spurs1990]

WTF. Why was Minny so desperate for a three?

[Supergirl]

Manu blocks Kevin Love. Are you serious? LOL

[Chase_the_Bass]

Clutch on the D though!!!! MANU!

[peskypesky]

whew

[slick'81]

finally finish them dyess

[ShoogarBear]

beasleys hair is awful

If you're watching his hair, you're in danger of being decapitated by one of his passes.

[ffadicted]

Manu makes up for his shitty drive with amazing D!!!

[Supreme_Being]

Nice!!!!!!!!

[Texas_Ranger]

Manu is god!

[HarlemHeat37]

Horrible play call from Rambis, great D from Manu..

[noles1983]

Haha bitches thats why your minnesota

[Mal]

stupid fucks

[DarkGinobili]

Dice with the rebound!

[GSH]

Not THAT was smothering defense by Manu.

[024]

wtf that was the play??

[Whisky Dog]

Manu defensive genius.

12 bitches!!!

[Cessation]

Yess!! Spurs winn!!!
Fuck you wolves1!!

[BoricuaCJA]

Game..overrrrr!!!!!!

[falconqb1234]

manu stepping up the d

[Frankie23]

Manu clutch D..

[siraulo23]

this game

cmon almost done

[Horse]

That's the play they call? rambis fucking sux!

[024]

lol wolves that was the play lololol

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

pop is pleased!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Supergirl]

WTF. Why was Minny so desperate for a three?

because the spurs have already taken the wind out of their sails by coming back from -21 and Neal's 3 FTs

[Pauleta14]

Game

[Spurologist]

Sota went for the 3 at home = white flag

sad

[DarkGinobili]

Game!

[Supreme_Being]

It's in the bag.

[Crookshanks]

Kevin Love wusses out at the end. He cramps up and can't finish.

[Texas_Ranger]

Hey Darko. Smile now you cock sucker!

[slick'81]

game set match

[CFH]

Dice clutch free throws :D

[siraulo23]

to seal it...

and...

got it

spur siwn

[BanditHiro]

fuck this game super gutsy

[BlairForceDejuan]

I heard MJ is going to be in the Hall of Manu

[VBM]

Wow...what a win

[peskypesky]

Spurs have taken 32 threes.

which is why i always say 3s are fool's gold!

[slick'81]

Hey Darko. Smile now you cock sucker!


lol

[DieHardSpursFan1537]

This is a little piece of mind to the Spurs to not get so far behind in the beginning. It shows what can happen if a team takes a big advantage like the Wolves did in the first half.

Bring on the Mavericks on Friday. We need a full house at San Antonio.

[ducks]

love shooting the three was stupid
he had leg craps DUMB DUMB DUMB

[Borosai]

Game! Manu redeems himself once again! Bonner give the Spurs their first lead of the game! Everything is the way it should be.

[Chase_the_Bass]

Wow. We pulled it off.

[peskypesky]

I heard MJ is going to be in the Hall of Manu

lol :toast

[bongraider]

game over. i shat bricks. thank you spurs

[GSH]

Now THAT was an ugly win. I guess we know what this team can do with adversity now.

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

these puppies commentators are something else LOL

[slick'81]

12-1 bitches

[TampaDude]

Just don't foul the 3-point shooter. Get out of the way and let them shoot.

[BlairForceDejuan]

spurs win spurs win!

[peskypesky]

glad i didn't watch. i would've gone totally gray.

[DrSteffo]

LOL Trap game! This was an easy win hehe

[Technique]

Kevin Love respecting Dice

[spurs1990]

Beasely is a dead ringer for Sprewell with that hair style and number 8 jersey

[VBM]

And I'll be the first to admit...I would have bet money we were losing after Ridnour hit that corner 3

[Mal]

W12

[noles1983]

Hahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahah ahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahaha hahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahah hahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahah ahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahaha hahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahah hahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahah ahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahaha

[Slydragon]

UGLY ASS WIN but I'll take it.

[Spurs Brazil]

Great block Manu

Dice FTs

Ball game

Big W

[Libri]

:flag:

[Pauleta14]

99% of the teams wouldn't have fight the way the spurs did tonight!!!

What an ugly but an amazing and important win !!!!

[Crookshanks]

What a gutsy win by the Spurs! Now that's Spurs basketball!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[spurs1990]

13-1.

We stole this game.

[Supreme_Being]

Now that's how you break a team's heart.

[peskypesky]

Now THAT was an ugly win. I guess we know what this team can do with adversity now.

fuck yeah. they were dead in the water. how the hell did they pull a win out of that mess?

[hitmanyr2k]

What are the odds? I've been switching back and forth between both games and first the Spurs came back from a huge deficit and now the Bulls have come back from 23 down against the "Sons" to make it a 3 point game. Hopefully the Bulls can duplicate the Spurs and get a "W".

[timtonymanu]

Fuck you Darko, Tolliver, Ridnour, Brewer, Johnson, and the refs.

Spurs win!!!

[Chase_the_Bass]

You can tell from their faces that we might as well have lost the game. Like a W* for us

[CFH]

What a comeback!

[ffadicted]

clutch as fuck spurs lololol

lolumad pups?

[Frankie23]

How can a team that never have the lead in the game (48mins) win a game?

Ask the San Antonio Spurs..

[ducks]

4 more turnovers for manu tonight

[Chieflion]

I don't know how, but a victory is a victory.

[ShoogarBear]

these puppies commentators are something else LOL

I didn't think they were that bad. They were kind of subdued because one of the regular announcers had a heart attack today.

[Texas_Ranger]

We sucked ass tonight. It was pathetic!

But Wolves... 21 point lead and you lost. LOL

And I loved how Darko was so happy while they were kicking our ass. :D

[Obstructed_View]

What a gutsy win by the Spurs! Now that's Spurs basketball!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, God, I hope not.

[TampaDude]

Wow...we actually fucking WON!!!!!

We sucked for 3 quarters and still WON!!!!!

GO SPURS GO!!!!!

[ShoogarBear]

4 more turnovers for manu tonight

ducks, I can set my watch by you.

[siraulo23]

sweet win

[Spurs Brazil]

For me that RJ 3 after TD board was the play of the game

[blkroadrunners]

Bring on the Mavs.

[Refocus]

I love our Spurs. :toast

[TampaDude]

FYI...the Hornets are LOSING to the Jazz!!!

[Obstructed_View]

I didn't think they were that bad. They were kind of subdued because one of the regular announcers had a heart attack today.

Not to make too light of a serious situation, as I hope he fully recovers, but maybe it was a blessing in disguise that he had it earlier today. This game might have finished him off.

[Fundamental]

And the roller coaster ends with a win.... this doesn't say much for the team's chances for a title...but it says a lot about WHY I LOVE THE SPURS! this was more exciting than anything i've watched since i was sitting inside the AT&T center watching the Spurs win their first win of the Dallas series this last summer.

Horrible shooting...but they pulled the win out... OMG this was exciting to watch. I love this team!!!!!!

:lobt2::flag::lobt2::flag::lobt2::flag::lobt2:.... ................ :lobt2: ????

[peskypesky]

and Miami loses again!!! a perfect night of NBA basketball!

[Horse]

it was a good block fucking wolves playing clutch
Bullshit. Even if it was the refs owe us one for fucking us allnight.

[ShoogarBear]

Well, if there's ever a time for Matt Bonner to be clutch, a November game against the Twolves is as good a time as any.

[Frankie23]

Spurs have taken 32 threes.
And the most important one was not even a basket..haha
Well done Gary "clutch free throws" Neal

[spurspokesman]

Great job love. But i'd rather be weak in victory than strong in defeat. NEXT

[boutons_deux]

Spurs again find another way to win.

[duncan228]

Gritty win. They could have packed it up and called it a night for three quarters. Great stuff, says a lot about the character of this team.

[HarlemHeat37]

I'm not going to say that it was a good W, but it counts in the standings, and the Spurs showed heart in the 4th, after playing horribly up until that point..

Minnesota made a ridiculous amount of fluky shots..Love, a 33% jump shooter, made a bunch of jump shots..Darko was making ridiculous shots, even though he's on a hot streak, he shouldn't be making some of those..Wes Johnson was unconscious..

Spurs showed a lot of poise though..

[Borosai]

Spurs will win by 4.

Good call boddy. You deserve a Spur.

[ducks]

manu was looking to get bailed out by a foul call late
he is one lucky motherfucker spurs won tonight

[ShoogarBear]

Not to make too light of a serious situation, as I hope he fully recovers, but maybe it was a blessing in disguise that he had it earlier today. This game might have finished him off.

The only reason I didn't have a stroke is I figured the game was over by the first quarter anyway, so anything else was just gravy.

[Spurologist]

4 more turnovers for manu tonight

http://ironyisgay.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/dog-on-duck-1.jpg

[peskypesky]

can i just say....FUCK YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO SPURS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DrSteffo]

I got up 3.30 in the "morning" to watch this game. I don't regret it :)

[BlairForceDejuan]

Dice with the SWAT

[Cessation]

team effort but gary neal saved the game, same as manu dude with his shake and bake earlier in the season to tie

[Pauleta14]

This game was really hard to watch, I was so nervous the hole game...

[024]

on another note, utah v NO tonight, utah up by 9 in the fourth.

[Texas_Ranger]

I got up 3.30 in the "morning" to watch this game. I don't regret it :)

I didn't even go to sleep, and it's 5.10 am here.

[GSH]

In the last few seasons, the Spurs would have let that one get away. "It's only one game." This team is different. They aren't going to let ANY game get away easily. Their play was an F, but thier will to win was an A+. There's a lot to like about this game because of it.

[DesignatedT]

So much fail in this thread. I love it.

BONNER ftw

[Russ]

Malik needs either a new suit or to lose a couple pounds.

[peskypesky]

Gritty win. They could have packed it up and called it a night for three quarters. Great stuff, says a lot about the character of this team.

Absolutely! As crazy as it seems to say it now, when its in the bag, but this might be more valuable than an easy victory would've been. This is the kind of game that builds character AND also teaches you to never underestimate ANY opponent. Even the worst NBA team is still a team of professional ballers, and when you slack, they hit your sack.

[Crookshanks]

In the last few seasons, the Spurs would have let that one get away. "It's only one game." This team is different. They aren't going to let ANY game get away easily. Their play was an F, but thier will to win was an A+. There's a lot to like about this game because of it.

I concur! :lol

[InRareForm]

wow fuck espn, no mention of the streak still alive.

[Mugen]

after getting abused early by fluky shots, Tiago Splitter was fucking huge defensively in the 4th

[ShoogarBear]

Minnesota made a ridiculous amount of fluky shots..Love, a 33% jump shooter, made a bunch of jump shots..Darko was making ridiculous shots, even though he's on a hot streak, he shouldn't be making some of those..Wes Johnson was unconscious..

Not to mention Luke using The Force for those back-to-back jumpers.


Spurs showed a lot of poise though..

Agreed. Yes, it was the Twolves, but this was them winning a game they probably had absolutely no business winning. Haven't had one of those in a long, long, time.

And I have to think that they'll play a little more vigorously against the Mavs.

[Texas_Ranger]

wow fuck espn, no mention of the streak still alive.

I bet there is something about the Heat. :hat

[awktalk]

Now that's how you break a team's heart.

This.

[peskypesky]

Their play was an F, but thier will to win was an A+.

:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao

dude, that says it ALL!!! no need for any more game grades.

[Cessation]

Spurs winning all the close games this season, they playing championship basketball.

[spurs1990]

Anyone know where to listen to the Spurs postgame radio online?

[TampaDude]

13-1, bitches!!!!! STILL THE BEST RECORD IN THE NBA!!!!! :toast

Bring on the Mavs!!!!!

GO SPURS GO!!!!!

[DrSteffo]

A win like this keep you going all day I think.

Talk about clutch. Even the FT shooting.

[ElNono]

Manu giveth, Manu taketh away

I'm also glad Bonner found his regular season form at the end there...

[ElNono]

Gotta play better if we want to beat Dallas though

[GSH]

We gotta go cook pies and stuff now. But I'm so jacked up I don't mind.

[Trill Clinton]

This game was really hard to watch, I was so nervous the hole game...

Whew tell me about it.

[Creation88]

awesome win tonight, great heart to fight back.

[Trill Clinton]

So much fail in this thread. I love it.

BONNER ftw


:toast

[Cessation]

I love the Gary Neal experssion and body language at the free throw line. He's 1/2 on the season, and comes up and with not a care in the world, so casually sinks all three. Sick1!!

[Obilivo]

Win eventually.
Fuck you!Damned Manu!
Totally love you!

[Obstructed_View]

I love the Gary Neal experssion and body language at the free throw line. He's 1/2 on the season, and comes up and with not a care in the world, so casually sinks all three. Sick1!!

I was wondering why Bill Schoening said "He's a 50 percent free throw shooter." :lol

[GSH]

I love the Gary Neal experssion and body language at the free throw line. He's 1/2 on the season, and comes up and with not a care in the world, so casually sinks all three. Sick1!!

Nobody could have blamed him for making 2-3 there. A lot of star players in the league have a hard time making all 3 under pressure. If he had any jitters, he never showed it. "Just doin what I'm supposed to do."

[Ice009]

i fucking hate bonner

i loveeeee bonnerr

This is so accurate lol. Crazy game.

[Pauleta14]

I hope Splitter develop and learn quickly though, we're gonna need him, Timmy can't do the job he used to do on D by himself anymore, he needs some more help!

Although he won't play every games against 2 bigs who waited specialy that game because they're fans of Timmy...

[BoricuaCJA]

I didn't even go to sleep, and it's 5.10 am here.
Where do you live at??

[ducks]

well bulls were down 23 and still have not lead and are now in overtime with the suns

[ShoogarBear]

Yeah, I'm kinda disappointed in Splitter's contribution this game. If he's not going to be help against Love and Darko, who will he be help against?

[Budkin]

I wonder if Anthony Tolliver is staring down his locker...

[Nathan89]

Yeah, I'm kinda disappointed in Splitter's contribution this game. If he's not going to be help against Love and Darko, who will he be help against?

Duncan didn't help against those guys either.

[ElNono]

So much fail in this thread. I love it.

BONNER ftw

What's the fail?

[Obstructed_View]

Yeah, I'm kinda disappointed in Splitter's contribution this game. If he's not going to be help against Love and Darko, who will he be help against?

He didn't hit a single three. I don't see how he helps the team at all.

[Jason R]

Yeah, I'm kinda disappointed in Splitter's contribution this game. If he's not going to be help against Love and Darko, who will he be help against?

Love is a pretty good player.

[angelbelow]

What's the fail?

lol I wouldn't bother with that guy.

[ducks]

Yeah, I'm kinda disappointed in Splitter's contribution this game. If he's not going to be help against Love and Darko, who will he be help against?

wtf was duncan problem tonight

[TampaDude]

It was great to see the Spurs hang tough and not quit even after being down big on the road. :toast

It's nice to get the win and take a positive vibe into Thanksgiving weekend.

GO SPURS GO!!!!!

[ducks]

Spurs rally from 21 down for 12th in a row
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap;_ylt=AjPvztHUt8FEiiaHglvmifW8vLYF?gid=201011 2416

[EricB]

Had the look of a team that didn't want to be there, didn't care about the other team, and bed head.

Shook it off and win.


Almost impossible in this league to win a game down 21 in the third quarter but they did it.


Awesome job and I gotta give him props Gary Neal for sinking all three FTs.

Solid efforts again from Jefferson.

[ducks]

bulls were down 23 and never lead tell second overtime

[wildbill2u]

They are beginning to look like the 99 team. That team could be down in the 3rd quarter by 20 but never gave up and somehow they knew they could pull it out.

They had that confidence that comes with great character. Games like this one build that character and confidence. This team could be awesome by the playoffs.

[duncan228]

San Antonio Spurs 113, Minnesota Timberwolves 109: The Spurs get an ‘A’ for persistence, not much else (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/)
by Timothy Varner
48 Minutes of Hell

Wow. What do you call that?

Moxie?

Keep reading → (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/san-antonio-spurs-113-minnesota-timberwolves-109-the-spurs-get-an-a-for-persistence-not-much-else#more-11424)

[TampaDude]

Bulls won it in 2OT!!! Awesome!!!

[ShoogarBear]

Love is a pretty good player.

Yeah, but Splitter needs to be an upgrade over McDyess against big men. If not, then the Spurs are going to be in trouble again in the playoffs.

[Sotongball21]

Sooo.. Love + Darko >> Duncan + Splitter/ Beast? :lol

[duncan228]

Some post-game quotes.


Spurs rally from 21 down for 12th in a row (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2010112416)
By Jon Krawczynski

Even Manu Ginobili thought the San Antonio Spurs’ incredible winning streak was over.

Nothing was falling and the Minnesota Timberwolves were dominating them down low like few others have. But the veteran Spurs didn’t give in even when it appeared to be over, dealing the young Wolves another painful lesson in the process.

Ginobili scored 14 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter to rally the Spurs from 21 points down for their 12th straight victory, 113-109 in overtime on Wednesday night.

Richard Jefferson added 19 points and Tony Parker had 18 points and six assists for the Spurs, who didn’t lead until there were 49 seconds to play in overtime, but still improved to an NBA-best 13-1.

“I thought there was no chance we were going to win it,” Ginobili said. “We were down 20, nothing was falling, we’re not playing with the kind of aggressiveness and energy that you need to overcome a deficit like that. I thought it was going to be a loss. Then slowly, very slowly, we started to recover.”

Kevin Love had 32 points and 22 rebounds, and Darko Milicic had 22 points, eight rebounds and five blocks for the Timberwolves, who blew a fourth-quarter lead for the third time this season.

“The few games that we lost, it kind of got in our heads,” Milicic said. “We’re thinking too much. We’re just not enjoying playing basketball in the fourth quarter. It’s kind of like we’re scared to win. I don’t know why. We’re up 20, just keep playing.”

After a horrid shooting start to the game, the Spurs hit 6-of-10 3s in the fourth. Gary Neal was fouled on a 3-pointer with 16 seconds left in regulation and hit all three free throws to tie it at 106.

The Spurs missed 17 of their first 19 3-pointers, but Matt Bonner’s 3 from the elbow gave them their first lead of the game with 49 seconds to go in overtime.

“I thought our guys showed really good perseverance and that it’s a 48-minute game,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “If you just keep chugging, something can happen for you and it worked for us. We’re thrilled with the victory because I thought they played very, very well.”

Once again, the youngest team in the league couldn’t find out a way to close a game. The Wolves’ offense grew stagnant in the fourth quarter as the Spurs made their run, and you could feel them tighten up as the score got closer and closer.

Tim Duncan had nine points and 13 rebounds, but was thoroughly outplayed by Love and Milicic down low for most of the game.

Wolves coach Kurt Rambis called it his team’s best performance of the season. The youngsters were devastated in the locker room after the game, but the coach is doing his best to keep their heads up as they simply wait to get more experience.

“It’s all part of it,” Rambis said. “It’s being able to be in those situation multiple times over many years. … Guys just didn’t have the poise and confidence to be able to make the right decisions at the right times in crucial junctures of the ballgame.”

The Spurs rolled into Target Center with the best record in the league, having won every game since a 99-90 loss to New Orleans on Oct. 30, the second game of the season.

Perhaps taking the Wolves a little too lightly early, the Spurs slumped through a listless first three quarters. They shot just 32.6 percent in the first half and missed 12 of their 13 3-pointers, an uncharacteristically poor shooting start for the team that led the NBA in 3-point shooting at 44 percent coming into the night.

Love and Milicic owned Duncan, DeJuan Blair and Tiago Splitter down low, combining for 29 points and 18 rebounds in the first half as the Wolves built an 18-point lead.

The breathing room didn’t help the young Wolves, who have struggled to hold leads all season. They settled for too many quick jump shots early in possessions during a particularly stagnant stretch in the third quarter that allowed the veteran Spurs to creep back into it.

Michael Beasley had an off night with 11 points and nine boards on 5-for-12 shooting and he committed three costly turnovers in the fourth quarter and overtime.

“I don’t even notice it,” Popovich said of the streak. “Every game is a game and we don’t even think about it. We’ll lose our share, it will end like every other streak.”

NOTES: San Antonio has won 13 in a row over the Wolves. … Milicic had seven turnovers. … Timberwolves TV analyst Jim Petersen had a mild heart attack on Wednesday and missed the game. The team said he is resting comfortably at a local hospital. … The Spurs signed G Ime Udoka and he played 3 minutes.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2010112416

[duncan228]

Notes on a scorecard: Why the Spurs should be extra thankful on Thursday (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2010/11/24/notes-on-a-scorecard-why-the-spurs-should-be-extra-thankful-on-thursday/)
By Tim Griffin

...This was an upside-down game where everything seemed to be turned around. Darko Milicic was an offensive force who looked like the second coming of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The Spurs couldn’t contain him. Even future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan, who was pulled for one of the final plays of regulation when the Spurs needed a defensive stop.

But in the end, the Timberwolves returned to form and so did Manu Ginobili.


...The Spurs have a variety of perimeter threats throughout their roster. It was interesting that Popovich trusted rookie Gary Neal enough to run a play for him with 16.2 seconds left. Neal was fouled on the shot and calmly sank three free throws to send the game into overtime. The Spurs loved Neal’s confidence and moxie after watching him play this summer. They were rewarded — again — with his late free throws Wednesday night.


...Don’t lose track of George Hill and his contributions in the victory. Hill, who was favoring a right calf injury coming into the game, contributed solid defense as he helped push the Spurs back into the game. And Popovich didn’t hesitate to return Ime Udoka into the lineup in the first quarter of his first game back with the team. While playing only three minutes, Udoka provided two steals.

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2010/11/24/notes-on-a-scorecard-why-the-spurs-should-be-extra-thankful-on-thursday/

*********************

Ginobili jolts Spurs to life (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2010/11/24/ginobili-jolts-spurs-to-life/)
by Jeff McDonald

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2010/11/24/ginobili-jolts-spurs-to-life/

[tvdij]

This was a crazy game.

1) I can't believe Duncan was pulled out of the game on a defensive substitution for Antonio McDyess (which paid off with a huge block)

I was starting to believe Duncan was starting to find himself defensively (when compared to last year), but I guess pop still sees him as a pick and roll liability?

2) Duncan and Splitter didn't play that badly defensively. They contested just about every shot. Milicic and Love were just abusing them with better offense. Milicic in particular was muscling Duncan in the post, while Love was making tough shots.

RJ, Neal, Manu and TP had good games. can't believe manu went for the block on Love and got it.

A fun night.

[EricB]

I think one can over analyze how Duncan and others did against Minnesota.

Just file this one as "meh, its November"

[Bukefal]

Love is a pretty good player.

Love is a great player. But very underrated.

Anyway. Yet another win. GO SPURS :clap

:flag::flag::flag:

[Dex]

Views from the other side:


Spurs work their way out of big hole

The Wolves gave up a 21-point lead over the NBA's best team before falling in overtime for another heartbreaking loss.

By KENT YOUNGBLOOD, Star Tribune
Last update: November 25, 2010 - 12:40 AM

You kept thinking: Can this keep happening?

Could the San Antonio Spurs, owners of an 11-game winning streak entering Wednesday's game against the Timberwolves at Target Center, league leaders in three-point shooting, keep missing?

Would the Wolves, up by 21 early in the third quarter but watching that lead slowly dwindle, show the poise that had eluded them recently?

The answers: No and no.

The Spurs kicked it into veteran mode. The Wolves fought, clawed and made some big shots late but also had late breakdowns. Forced into overtime, they ultimately lost 113-109.

Another great, big almost.

Afterward Wolves coach Kurt Rambis praised his team. "I thought our guys did a terrific job in the game. I thought we did a great job, at both ends of the floor," he said. "That was probably the best game we've played all season long."

But inside the locker room, at least right after the game, it was hard to see a bright side. Said Kevin Love: "It's very tough. We need to learn how to win ballgames."

So much to like, so much to rue. The Wolves shot 47.2 percent, hitting half their three-pointers. Love went for 32 points and 22 rebounds, while center Darko Milicic had 22 points, eight rebounds and five blocks. At one point, in the fourth quarter, the Spurs gave Tim Duncan help with a double team. Really. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said one of his assistants asked him if Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was out there.

But Michael Beasley, in foul trouble early, never got into the flow and had crucial turnovers late. The Spurs, cold as ice at first, were unstoppable down the stretch. They were 3-for-20 entering the fourth quarter and 7-for-12 in the final 17 minutes.

It was a pure case of veteran grit getting the better of youth.

Manu Ginobili had 26 points, 19 after halftime. Tony Parker? Ten of his 18 were in the third quarter.

The Spurs needed them all. The Wolves went up 21 on Beasley's 14-footer with 9:12 left in the third, and San Antonio started nibbling away.

The lead was down to 11 by the end of the third. In the fourth, Gary Neal's three-pointer made it seven with 9:28 left. Down to five on George Hill's floater at 7:56. Then two on Matt Bonner's trey with 6:49 left.

To the Wolves' credit, they battled much of the rest of the game, making big shots time after time. Luke Ridnour had a two, then a three-pointer from the corner. Wes Johnson scored from Milicic out of a double-team. Milicic had a running hook off the glass over Duncan. After Ginobili converted a three-point play to pull the Spurs within one, Love was fouled and hit both free throws with 19.1 seconds left.

But then Johnson was called for fouling Neal on a three-point attempt. Johnson said he didn't touch Neal, who stepped to the line and made all three to tie the score. Ridnour missed at the buzzer, sending it to overtime.

In the extra session it was tied at 108 with 2:38 left, but the Wolves were outscored 5-1 the rest of the way.

Rambis was all about being upbeat.

"As we grow as a team and we evolve, these are the painful lessons we have to learn," he said. "A lot of mistakes were made in crucial junctures against a veteran, playoff team. They are poised and know what they are doing. They make the plays, and we make the mistakes. We want our players to learn from them."

They're trying. "In the games we've lost, we can't finish up," Milicic said. "It kind of got in our heads. We're playing, fourth quarter, thinking too much. ... We're scared to win. I don't know why."

http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/110512579.html?page=2&c=y

[ducks]

jeff must have missed neal preason game winner three pointer manu drew up

[MeesterMarcus]

Gahhhh I can't BELIEVE I missed this game. Is there any way I can still watch it?