Timberwolves-Spurs Preview

[duncan228]

http://www.nba.com/games/20080328/MI...scoreboardhome

Timberwolves-Spurs Preview
By KATE HEDLIN, STATS Writer

The San Antonio Spurs have a tough schedule to close the regular season, so they realize the importance of taking advantage of games against some weaker opponents.

The Spurs look to win their sixth straight Friday when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are fighting to stay out of the Western Conference cellar.

San Antonio (49-23), which is a game behind New Orleans for the best record in the West, won its fifth in a row Wednesday with a 97-88 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Tim Duncan had 26 points and 12 rebounds for the Spurs, who shot 50.0 percent from the field while holding Los Angeles to 39.0 percent. However, they allowed the Clippers, who are in 11th place in the West, to remain close for much of the game until a late 10-0 run put it away.

"We knew we couldn't afford to lose the game so we did what we had to in order to get the win," said Tony Parker, averaging just 13.0 points on 29.8 percent shooting over the last three games.

After Friday's game, the Spurs conclude a four-game homestand with matchups against Houston and Golden State. Those two opponents are among seven teams with winning records San Antonio must face over its final nine games of the season.

The Spurs are tied with Houston and the Los Angeles Lakers for the second-best record in the West, though the conference's top six teams are separated by just three games.

"Every game is very important and every game can change the standings," Parker said. "We have to take care of business every game."

Duncan has posted double-doubles in all five games during the Spurs' current win streak, which comes after they lost a season-high four straight.

After escaping with a win over the Clippers, San Antonio hopes for an easier time against the team directly below them in the standings.

Minnesota has the third-worst record in the West, ahead of only Memphis and Seattle, although it's shown some improvement recently.

The Timberwolves have gone 6-4 in their last 10 games, with three of the four losses coming on the road, including Wednesday's 97-86 defeat to Houston.

Al Jefferson had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Ryan Gomes added 17 points and nine boards, but the Timberwolves were outrebounded 58-38.

"We were kind of close but definitely we didn't deserve to win the game," Minnesota's Marko Jaric said. "They played smarter than we did and they wanted it more. We lost the game on the rebounding end of the court."

The Timberwolves are in the midst of a difficult stretch in their schedule against several playoff contenders. After Friday's game against the Spurs, they return home to face Utah and Detroit before going back on the road to face the Jazz and the Suns.

With Wednesday's loss, Minnesota fell to 5-29 on the road this season. The Timberwolves have the second-worst road record in the NBA, ahead of Memphis. They have lost seven straight in San Antonio, including a 105-88 loss on Jan. 12.

[duncan228]

http://www.nba.com/spurs/gameday/080328.html

Probable Starters:

Parker
Guard
18.4 PPG
Finley
Guard
9.7 PPG
Bowen
Forward
6.0 PPG
Duncan
Forward
19.7 PPG
Oberto
Center
4.7 PPG

Spur in the Spotlight
Michael Finley
Finley, who averages 9.7 points, has combined for 40 in his last two games.

Did You Know...
David Robinson holds the record for most points in Target Center history when he dropped 50 points on the Timberwolves on 2/21/94 … he is also the Timberwolves first opponent to record a triple-double – with 24 points, 12 rebounds and 12 blocks – on 2/23/90 … on 2/6/99 the Spurs set a Minnesota opponent’s record for most rebounds in a non-overtime game with 64 … Robert Horry and Mark Madsen teamed on the Lakers from 2000-03.

[duncan228]

http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/17069031.html

Wolves gameday
JERRY ZGODA

By winning tonight, the Spurs would reach 50 victories for the ninth consecutive season. Their current streak of eight seasons already is the longest in the league. Since the NBA adopted an 82-game season in 1967, only the Los Angeles Lakers (12 consecutive, from 1979-80 through 1990-91) and the Boston Celtics (nine in a row, from 1979-80 through 1987-88) have reached 50 victories in nine or more consecutive seasons ... San Antonio has won all three meetings between the teams this season. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich won his 600th NBA game in a 105-88 victory at AT&T Center on Jan. 12.

Players to watch: Consider these numbers from Spurs sixth man Manu Ginobili in three games against the Wolves this season: 32.2 points a game, 75 percent shooting (21-for-28) from three-point range. He has scored 31, 22 and 44 points in those games and finished that 44-point game by hitting the winning shot with 6.2 seconds left in a 100-99 victory at Target Center on Feb. 21 ...Tim Duncan's 26-point, 12-rebound game Wednesday against the Clippers was his fifth consecutive double-double and his 46th of the season. Wolves forward Al Jefferson reached his 50th double-double with 21 and 10 in Wednesday's loss at Houston.

Injuries: Wolves point guard Sebastian Telfair has not played since March 14 because of a sprained ankle. Spurs forward Robert Horry sat out Wednesday's game because of a knee bruise.

[MoSpur]

Al Jefferson is a beast.

[Brutalis]

Maybe Duncan can try not to get schooled by AJ this game.

[ancestron]

I think Parker goes off tonight.

[boutons_]

Frankly, I'm as interested in Hornets@Celtics, maybe more, but it's not on TV.

[Galileo]

http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/17069031.html

Wolves gameday
JERRY ZGODA

By winning tonight, the Spurs would reach 50 victories for the ninth consecutive season. Their current streak of eight seasons already is the longest in the league. Since the NBA adopted an 82-game season in 1967, only the Los Angeles Lakers (12 consecutive, from 1979-80 through 1990-91) and the Boston Celtics (nine in a row, from 1979-80 through 1987-88) have reached 50 victories in nine or more consecutive seasons ... San Antonio has won all three meetings between the teams this season. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich won his 600th NBA game in a 105-88 victory at AT&T Center on Jan. 12.

Players to watch: Consider these numbers from Spurs sixth man Manu Ginobili in three games against the Wolves this season: 32.2 points a game, 75 percent shooting (21-for-28) from three-point range. He has scored 31, 22 and 44 points in those games and finished that 44-point game by hitting the winning shot with 6.2 seconds left in a 100-99 victory at Target Center on Feb. 21 ...Tim Duncan's 26-point, 12-rebound game Wednesday against the Clippers was his fifth consecutive double-double and his 46th of the season. Wolves forward Al Jefferson reached his 50th double-double with 21 and 10 in Wednesday's loss at Houston.

Injuries: Wolves point guard Sebastian Telfair has not played since March 14 because of a sprained ankle. Spurs forward Robert Horry sat out Wednesday's game because of a knee bruise.

the 50 win streak is deceptive and underates the Spurs. In '99, the strike year, the Spurs projected to over 60 wins.

The Spurs worst year in the Duncan era was 53 wins, 29 losses, 65% wins.

That is 11 straight years winning 65%.

The record is 12 by the Lakers.

Bill Russell's middle 11 years were also over 65%