Timberwolves at Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs look to stretch their home winning streak against Minnesota to 11 games when they entertain the Timberwolves on Friday. San Antonio improved to 50-9 all-time at home against Minnesota with a 112-108 win on Oct. 17.
The Timberwolves haven't won in San Antonio since posting a 108-95 victory on April 17, 2013 in the regular-season finale when Rick Adelman was coach. Timing might not be on its side in this meeting either as Minnesota dropped five of its last six games while the Spurs won six of their past seven. San Antonio beat the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic by an average of 33 points in its last two contests and held six straight foes below 100 points. "We didn't change the strategy at all. We watched film, talked about some things, and I guess they listened," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told reporters after Wednesday's 129-90 victory over Orlando. "Or maybe the other teams just all missed shots every night. I don't know. It's a big change, for sure."
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), CW 35 (San Antonio)
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (14-17): Minnesota is beginning a three-game road stretch on the heels of a devastating 129-123 overtime loss to the visiting Detroit Pistons on Wednesday. The Timberwolves held a 14-point lead at the outset of the fourth quarter and gave the lead away with Detroit's Andre Drummond tapping in a putback with 0.6 seconds left to send the game into overtime. "The fourth quarter is different and you have to react to what's going on, so that is disappointing," Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters after Wednesday's game. "I think they had 78 (points) after three, and then a 40-point fourth quarter. And then all we had to do was get a stop, and we give up a second shot. That can't happen."
ABOUT THE SPURS (17-15): San Antonio shot 64.9 percent from the field and made 12-of-19 3-pointers in the rout of Orlando while recording assists on 29 of 50 field goals. "Everybody was hitting shots. We were moving the ball well with 29 assists," Spurs shooting guard Bryn Forbes told reporters. "That's the effort we want night-in and night-out. That's exactly what we're looking for." San Antonio's last four victories have been by an average of 32.3 points with a 25-point triumph over the Phoenix Suns marking the lowest margin of victory.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Timberwolves routed the Spurs 128-89 on Nov. 28 in Minneapolis.
2. San Antonio leads the NBA with a 3-point percentage of 39.6.
3. Minnesota PG Jeff Teague (ankle) will miss his third straight game.