Parker Helps Spurs Keep 'Wolves At Bay 117-110
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Tony Parker had 29 points to offset a season-high 42 points from Kevin Love and the San Antonio Spurs rallied for a 117-110 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.
Manu Ginobili had 20 points and nine assists, fueling a 37-21 fourth quarter that helped the Spurs avoid their second home loss this season.
Kawhi Leonard had 19 points and Boris Diaw, Marco Belinelli and Tim Duncan had 12 points apiece. Duncan added 14 rebounds.
Nikola Pekovic had 18 points, Ricky Rubio added 15 points and Kevin Martin had 14 for Minnesota, which had won two straight.
Ginobili scored 16 points in the final quarter, helping San Antonio overcome a lethargic start. His reverse layup with 2 minutes remaining extended San Antonio's lead to 111-108.
Love had 26 points after halftime, nearly besting his previous season-high of 34 in the second half alone.
Leonard scored nine straight points midway through the third quarter, keeping San Antonio in the game while Minnesota got hot behind the 3-point line.
The Timberwolves were 6 for 12 on 3s in the third, making three consecutive attempts to take a 79-75 lead with 4 minutes left.
Love had the opening and closing 3s in the run, finishing with 19 points in the third quarter. He was 5 for 6 on 3s in the period, and 7 for 9 overall as Diaw, Jeff Ayres and all the help defense the Spurs provided failed to slow him.
NOTES: Spurs centers Tiago Splitter (tightness left calf) and Aron Baynes (calf strain) both sat out. . Minnesota F Chase Budinger (knee surgery) missed the game, as did C Ronny Turiaf (fractured right elbow). . San Antonio recalled Malcolm Thomas from its developmental league team, the Austin Toros. Thomas did not play Friday. . Entering Friday's game, San Antonio leads the league in assists, averaging 25.0 per game. The Spurs have had more helpers than their opponent in 19 of 22 games, going 17-2 in those games. . A quarter of Corey Brewer's 114 baskets for Minnesota this season had come on dunks entering Friday's game. He is shooting 45 percent from the field.
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