NBA Game Summary - San Antonio at Minnesota

Minneapolis, MN (Basketball News) - Beno Udrih led the way with 15 points and every Spur in uniform scored, as San Antonio clinched the Southwest Division title and the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs with a comfortable 103-90 victory over Minnesota at the Target Center.

Manu Ginobili and Brent Barry each added 14 points while Tony Parker contributed 11 points and Tim Duncan donated 10 points and eight rebounds in the victory. Both Parker and Duncan played sparingly with the large lead during the second half, as San Antonio won for the third time in four games.

Marcus Banks scored 25 points, including a 10-of-11 effort from the charity stripe, while Rashad McCants added 20 points and six rebounds off the bench. Star forward Kevin Garnett (right knee tendinitis) did not play. Mark Blount sprang for 14 points and Bracey Wright donated 13 points in Minnesota’s second straight loss.

Taking a 26-21 lead into the second stanza, San Antonio took complete control of the contest. A 10-2 burst opened a 42-29 edge, as Duncan tallied the first four points, Bruce Bowen converted a three-point play and Barry buried a three with 6:09 left.

Parker’s driving layup made the score 44-31 then the point guard again converted in the lane to open a 49-31 lead with 3:58 to play in the half.

Udrih scored the last four points of the half and San Antonio took a commanding 56-35 edge into the locker room.

San Antonio led 77-59 after three stanzas.

The Spurs continued to pour it on, tallying the first five points of the fourth quarter to take an insurmountable lead. Nick Van Exel buried a trey and Michael Finley’s jumper with 10:54 to play made the score 82-59.

The Timberwolves made a run toward respectability during the fourth, cutting the deficit to 85-72 on the heels of a 13-3 burst. Blount’s jumper with 7:11 left capped the scoring stretch.

The hole was too deep to climb out of, however, and San Antonio cruised to victory from there.