Timberwolves at Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs strive to defeat Minnesota for the 10th consecutive time when they host the Timberwolves on Saturday. Star forward Kawhi Leonard averaged 32.5 points as the Spurs won this season's first two meetings by an average of 11 points.
Leonard scored 31 points and played his typical stellar defense in Friday's 101-98 overtime road win over the New Orleans Pelicans for San Antonio's sixth straight win and eighth in the past nine outings. "It defines him as a very special player," Spurs center Pau Gasol told reporters about Leonard's two-way abilities. "This year, his scoring has picked up from previous seasons, but he still makes big-time plays, winning plays on the defensive end, and that's what defines the best player on the floor." Minnesota is making a push for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference and trails the eighth-place Denver Nuggets by three games after winning six of its last nine games. "It's just the discipline," Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns told reporters of the recent victory stretch. "We're executing no matter what happens. We're sticking to our principles, and that's a sign of a team growing."
TV: 9 p.m. ET, FSN North (Minnesota), FSN Southwest (San Antonio)
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (25-36): Small forward Andrew Wiggins has fueled Minnesota's rise with a franchise-record 19 consecutive 20-point outings as part of his 23.4 season average. Towns has his own impressive streak of 16 straight 20-point efforts and had 21 points and 15 rebounds in Wednesday's 107-80 trouncing of the Utah Jazz for his fifth consecutive double-double. The Timberwolves, who allow 105.2 points per game, have been better on defense lately by allowing less than 100 points in five of the past seven games.
ABOUT THE SPURS (47-13): Leonard topped 30 points in six of the past nine games and has 21 such outings this season after totaling four during his first five NBA campaigns. San Antonio's hot streak has allowed it to creep within 2 1/2 games of the first-place Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference as the team enters a stretch in which six of its next seven games are at home. Power forward LaMarcus Aldridge recorded 21 points and a season-high 15 rebounds against the Pelicans for his sixth double-double in the past 10 games and 15th of the season.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Spurs are 46-9 all-time at home versus the Timberwolves.
2. Minnesota PG Ricky Rubio is averaging 11.3 assists over the past four games.
3. San Antonio SG Danny Green is averaging just four points on 8-of-31 shooting over the last five contests.