Wolves record: 20-47
Stop-n-Pop/Canis Hoopus game recap
The Wolves squandered a golden opportunity with Spurs stars Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili out with injuries. Minnesota had a chance to start off a grueling stretch of games, including five of the next six on the road against playoff-contending teams, on a positive note.
“It’s tough; two of their three or four best players were out,” Wolves center Kevin Love said. “We could have taken advantage of it. We were battling from behind the whole game.”
The Wolves, who were swept in the four regular-season games against the Spurs (45-22), have lost 10 straight in San Antonio.
Mike Miller scored 15 for the Wolves. Love also had 19 rebounds, one shy of the Minnesota rookie record set by Dean Garrett against San Antonio in 1997.
The Wolves trailed by six points in the first quarter, led by six in the second and then used a 12-4 run to recover from a 10-point deficit early in the third quarter. They got within a point late in the quarter, until Mason’s 8-0 run all by himself tipped the game for good.
“We competed,” Wolves veteran Mike Miller said. “We just didn’t get over the top.”
Love had all 17 of his points and 14 of his 19 rebounds after halftime.
19 Kevin Love’s rebounds, a career high.