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"they’ll probably need to win their final two games and get some help"
false. if we win out, we do not get 8th seed. how do you spell incompetent in english?
Minnesota (15-65) at San Antonio (49-31)
Game info: 8:30 pm EDT Mon Apr 12, 2010
TV: FSSW
By Matt Becker
For the San Antonio Spurs to avoid a first-round playoff series with the defending champions, they’ll probably need to win their final two games and get some help.
Before looking ahead to possible playoff scenarios, though, the Spurs first need to get past the Minnesota Timberwolves - something that hasn’t been a problem for them lately.
In its regular season finale Monday night at the AT&T Center, San Antonio seeks its 12th straight victory over the woeful Timberwolves.
After winning the Southwest Division four of the past five seasons, the Spurs (49-31) look like they could be the Western Conference’s eighth seed for this season’s playoffs. San Antonio and Portland have identical records, but the Trail Blazers swept the season series and hold the tiebreaker.
San Antonio can still pass Portland, as it wraps up the season Wednesday at Southwest Division-winning Dallas, while the Blazers host sixth-place Oklahoma on Monday and lowly Golden State on Wednesday.
The team that finishes eighth will have a first-round series with the top-seeded Lakers. Asked on a scale of 1 to 10 how bad the Spurs wanted to face the Lakers in the opening round, coach Gregg Popovich simply answered, “Minus-5.”
Popovich would probably rather face the Timberwolves (15-65), the West’s worst team.
The Spurs have won 11 straight over Minnesota and 16 of 17 in the series. They’ve also won the last 11 in San Antonio since a 100-93 loss on Jan. 14.
Neither meeting this season was close, as the Spurs won 117-99 at home on Dec. 29 and 103-85 in Minnesota on March 12. Richard Jefferson led San Antonio with 24 points in the December meeting and finished with 19 points and nine rebounds against the Timberwolves last month.
The Spurs are coming off an impressive 104-85 win at Denver on Saturday, handing the Nuggets just their fourth home loss in 24 games.
Tim Duncan had 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Jefferson and Manu Ginobili added 15 apiece, as San Antonio won for the fifth time in seven games.
Duncan said after the game he isn’t too concerned about who the Spurs face in the playoffs.
“We’ll play who we play. We’ll prepare for it the same way,” the 12-time All-Star said. “We’ve got to refocus.”
San Antonio knows it won’t face Minnesota, a team that has essentially been out of the postseason picture since starting the season 1-15.
The season is ending even worse for the Timberwolves, who have just one victory in their last 22 games.
Minnesota, which is coming off Sunday’s 114-86 loss at New Orleans, needs one win in its final two games to avoid matching the worst record in franchise history, set in 1991-92. The Wolves, who are 2-23 on the road since Dec. 29, conclude the regular season Wednesday against Detroit.
Sunday’s loss was especially discouraging for Minnesota, which shot 39.4 percent, was outrebounded 49-30 and outscored 70-32 in the paint.
“I don’t think we were purposeful out there,” said coach Kurt Rambis, who was ejected for arguing a call early in the second quarter. “I don’t think that we were very attentive to what we wanted to do offensively. … Defensive-wise, we weren’t focused on what we had to do in order to get stops.”
Al Jefferson returned to Minnesota’s lineup Sunday after missing two games while attending to a hospitalized family member, but had only five points on 1 of 6 shooting and three rebounds in 30 minutes.
*********************
Team Stat Leaders
Points
Al Jefferson Min 17.4
Tim Duncan SA 17.9
Rebounds
Kevin Love Min 11.1
Tim Duncan SA 10.2
Assists
Jonny Flynn Min 4.5
Tony Parker SA 5.7
"they’ll probably need to win their final two games and get some help"
false. if we win out, we do not get 8th seed. how do you spell incompetent in english?
Alright Spurs, get it done. Don't it up this time!
Referee Assignments
Mon. Apr 12
Minnesota @ San Antonio: Bavetta; Curtis Blair; Michael Smith
what's the spurs' record again against teams under .500?
All I ask from Spurs for the rest of the season is win this game. I don't care if they get killed vs. Mavs. Win this one and concentrate on playoffs.
Let's get to 50!
Lol bavetta
NBA is saving Joey for the Dallas game.
Minnesota Timberwolves (15-65) at San Antonio Spurs (49-31)
Still grappling for playoff position in the tight Western Conference, the San Antonio Spurs shoot for their 12th straight win over the woeful Minnesota Timberwolves in their regular season finale at the AT&T Center on Monday night.
San Antonio is currently deadlocked with both Portland and Oklahoma City for the West's final three seeds with each team trying to avoid a first round matchup with the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers.
The Spurs got good news last night, however, when the Thunder fell in Oakland against the lowly Golden State Warriors. If San Antonio can defeat Western Conference-worst Minnesota tonight and Oklahoma City loses at Portland, the Thunder will be locked into the eighth seed and the matchup with LA.
The Spurs came up with a very big win in their last outing, routing fellow West contender Denver, 104-85, on Saturday in the Rockies. Tim Duncan posted 18 points and 10 rebounds in that one.
Manu Ginobili and Richard Jefferson each tallied 15 points for the Spurs, while Tony Parker and DeJuan Blair both scored 12 as San Antonio snapped a two-game skid.
"We got into the bonus with nine minutes left and were able to attack the basket a little more," Duncan said. "I think DeJuan did a great job of getting into the middle and making some great passes. Manu hit some shots, so I think it was good ball movement, make some and it gave us breathing room."
San Antonio finishes its season on Wednesday in Dallas against the Southwest Division-champion Mavericks.
The finish line can't get here quick enough for the lowly Wolves, who lost for the 21st time in 22 games yesterday in New Orleans when Emeka Okafor scored 23 points and Marcus Thornton added 22, as the Hornets finished off a four-game series sweep of Minnesota with a 114-86 rout.
Ryan Gomes had 18 points and Ramon Sessions scored 17 for the Timberwolves, who are trying to avoid tying a franchise record of 67 losses in a season (1991-92). They'll have to win one of their final two games, either at San Antonio tonight or home against Detroit on Wednesday.
Jonny Flynn scored 11 in another loss for the Timberwolves, who have also dropped 11 in a row on the road. Al Jefferson returned to the Minnesota lineup after missing two games supporting a hospitalized family member, but only recorded five points on 1-of-6 shooting.
"I don't think we were purposeful out there," Timberwolves head coach Kurt Rambis said. "Defensively, we weren't focused on what we had to do to get the stops."
Overall, the Spurs have won 16 of 17 vs. Minnesota, including 11 straight in the Alamo City.
so is hill going to give it a try tonight?
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