NBA -- Spurs dispatch Wolves, improve home record to 16-2
By Homer D. Sayson
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 15 Jan 2013
CHICAGO -- At 29-11, the San Antonio Spurs rank only third overall in the NBA standings behind powerhouse 29-8 Oklahoma City Thunder and the league's flavor of the season, the 28-9 Los Angeles Clippers.
But when it comes to taking care of business at their homefloor, nobody does it better than the San Antonio Spurs.
Leading by just a shaky five points, 78-73 with still 11:46 left in the final quarter, the Spurs went full throttle and demolished the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves - 106-88 - Sunday night at the AT&T Center.
The impressive win raised San Antonio's home record to 16-2, the best in the NBA percentage-wise. Although the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Miami Heat have 18 and 16 home wins respectively, they each have lost thrice in their buildings. .
Tony Parker led the way with 20 points and six assists while Gary Neal had 15 off the bench, going 3-fo-3 from 3-point range. Tim Duncan did a little bit of everything -- 12 points, nine rebounds, seven blocks, five assists and three steals -- and Manu Ginobili dropped 12 points.
"They just kept coming at me. I'm just trying to bring some energy back and get my rhythm back. I've been in a slump lately and I'm trying to fight my way out of it," Duncan told ESPN.com of his recent struggles.
Playing without their superstar Kevin Love (out with a broken hand), the Timberwolves gave everything they had and trailed only by 55-50 at the halftime break and 78-71 entering the fourth quarter.
But it was too much San Antonio, which shot 56.2 percent from the field on 45-of-80 field goals. The Spurs also controlled the boards, 43-38, and they had way more assists than the Wolves, 31-23.
J.J. Barea had 15 points for the Timberwolves, who fell to 16-18, 10th in Western Conference and 2 1/2 games behind the Portland Trail Blazers for the 8th and last playoffs berth. (HDS)
PHOTO: The Spurs' Big Three -- Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan -- combined for 44 points among them as San Antonio easily beat Minnesota, 106-88, at the AT@T Center.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.
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