Spurs 116, Timberwolves 100
SPURS 116, TIMBERWOLVES 100: Tim Duncan collected 21 points and 15 rebounds in 24 minutes as host San Antonio cruised despite losing Tony Parker early.
Parker left the game early in the second quarter with tightness in his left hamstring and did not return.
Gary Neal took over Parker’s spot and finished with 16 points and Stephen Jackson chipped in 16 on 6-of-9 shooting for the Spurs, who remain comfortably in second place in the West.
The Timberwolves lost for the sixth time in their last eight and fell 2½ games behind the Houston Rockets for the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference.
San Antonio did its best work at the start of each half, outscoring Minnesota 32-16 in the first quarter to set the tone. Duncan scored 10 points in the period while Jackson and Manu Ginobili added five apiece.
The Timberwolves got a few points back in the second quarter but still trailed 56-47 at the half and let it get out of hand in the third. The Spurs shot 65 percent in the frame as Duncan scored eight more points and San Antonio put the game away.
Kevin Love moved over to center with Nikola Pekovic out and recorded 17 points and 12 rebounds for Minnesota.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Timberwolves got 53 points off the bench, led by 18 and 11 assists from J.J. Barea. … San Antonio’s bench, led by Jackson and Neal, went for 59 points. … Minnesota, which ranks third in the NBA in rebounding, was dominated on the glass 56-41.