MINNEAPOLIS _ There is something inexorable _ and if you play for the Minnesota Timberwolves, not unexpected _ about the San Antonio Spurs.
It happened again in San Antonio's 100-93 victory at Target Center _ the Spurs' fourth in four games vs. the Wolves this season.
For the fourth time against the Wolves, the Spurs started slowly. For the fourth time the Wolves held a halftime lead _ in Tuesday's case a 51-42. And for the fourth time the Spurs, led by Kawhi Leonard, calmly ground their way to victory.
This time an 11-point Wolves lead early in the third quarter dissolved amid a flurry of Wolves turnovers, missed shots and untimely fouls, resulting in a six-point Spurs lead entering the fourth.
The Wolves tried to shake that off, pulled within four numerous times.
Andrew Wiggins hit two free throws with 2:29 left to pull the Wolves within two. Then, after Danny Green missed at the other end, Karl-Anthony Towns scored, was fouled, and made the free throw with 2:04 left to take a 93-92 lead.
But the Spurs scored the game's final eight points.
A Ricky Rubio turnover _ the Wolves' 21st of the night � was turned into Leonard's jumper with 54 seconds left. Out of a time out Wiggins missed for the Wolves. Pau Gasol got the rebound, was fouled and hit both free throws for a three-point Spurs lead with 35.5 seconds left.
Out of a time out Gorgui Dieng was unable to handle a Rubio pass, resulting in turnover No. 22. Leonard's two free throws with 20.1 left sealed the game.
The Wolves (28-42) lost for the fourth straight time overall, ending a four-game home winning streak in the process.
Leonard, held to two points in the first half, scored 20 in the second. LaMarcus Aldridge had 26 points. Gasol had 11.
The Wolves were led by Towns, who had 25 points and 14 rebounds. Andrew Wiggins had 22 points and Shabazz Muhammad had 18 points off the bench.
Considering how badly they were out-rebounded, it was rather fortunate Minnesota was down only two points after the first quarter, which ended with Dieng hitting a three-pointer to cut San Antonio's lead to 25-23.
The Wolves spent much of the quarter trying unsuccessfully to guard Aldridge, who hit six of nine shots for 12 points with three rebounds and an assist for the Spurs, who scored 12 second-chance points in the quarter.
For the Wolves Wiggins was aggressive, getting to the line three times and scoring nine points on 3-for-6 shooting.
The second quarter was the Muhammad show. He scored 16 points on 7-for-11 shooting, including two three-pointers, as the Wolves surged to the lead.
The Wolves were down four points early in the second when they went on a 14-0 run _ with Muhammad scored 10 of those with two three-pointers sandwiching two put-backs _ as the Wolves took a 40-30 lead half-way through the quarter.
The Spurs drew back within five, 44-39, on Danny Green's three-pointer. But the Wolves responded with a 7-0 run _two Muhammad baskets and Omri Casspi's first three-pointer in a Wolves uniform _ to go up 51-39 before Jonathon Simmons hit a three before the halftime buzzer to pull the Spurs within 51-42.
And then the Spurs got serious.
As has been the case in every game between the two teams, the Spurs waited until the second half to get going. Down 11 early in the third, the Spurs put the defensive clamps on a Wolves team that turned the ball over (nine) times in the quarter.
The result was a quarter of dominance. Leonard scored 12 and Aldridge eight in the Spurs' 31-16 third quarter_ San Antonio scored 17 points off of 10 Wolves turnovers _ to give the Spurs a 73-67 lead entering the fourth.
