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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The San Antonio Spurs could have used Tim
Duncan down the stretch, when their comeback from a 16-point
deficit fell just short.
"It's frustrating to miss games and not be able to help your
team out there," Duncan said after sitting out the Spurs' 102-98
loss to Minnesota on Sunday.
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Duncan is questionable
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Tim Duncan is listed as questionable for Tuesday night's game with Miami in San Antonio. It will be a game-time decision. He did not participate fully in practice Monday (an off day for the Spurs) but did take part in their shootaround. He has missed the past two games with a lower abdominal strain.
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"It's frustrating to sit on the side and see things that you
could do or would want to do out there, and not be able to go."
Duncan missed his second straight game because of a lower
abdominal strain.
The Spurs fell behind by 16 in the first half before making a
game of it with a smaller lineup that caused mismatches for
Minnesota.
"Of course we haven't been together that long," said Kevin
Garnett, whose 29 points led the Wolves. "(Coach) Flip Saunders
always says we've got to finish teams off a little better than we
do. We let teams back in, tend to get a little lackadaisical with
the big leads and with more games, with growth, with progress,
we'll learn that."
Duncan's absence helped the Wolves hang on as they made nine
more baskets than the Spurs and outrebounded them 40-32.
|  | | Spurs guard Terry Porter is fouled by Timberwolves forward Joe Smith. |
Where was Duncan missed the most?
"Pretty much down the stretch," said David Robinson, who
scored 29 points. "And on the boards. We are a lot smaller without
Tim and it's real noticeable. If I have to go help, it leaves us
small on the boards. At least with Tim in the game, we have one
7-footer on the boards."
Avery Johnson said the Spurs just aren't the same without
Duncan.
"We were already somewhat used to playing without Sean
(Elliott). When you have two important pieces out of the lineup
like that, you have a lot to overcome," Johnson said.
And they very nearly did.
Malik Rose's 3-pointer with 2.8 seconds left pulled San Antonio
to 100-98, but Terrell Brandon answered with two free throws with
2.1 seconds left.
For a while it looked as though the Wolves would rout the
Midwest Division leaders. Garnett had 19 points and Brandon made 16
of his 20 in the first half as the Wolves shot 62 percent, limited
the Spurs to 11 rebounds and built a 61-51 halftime lead after
leading by as many as 16.
But the Spurs got back into it at the free-throw line, making 20
of 29 after halftime compared to Minnesota's 7 of 8. Six of those
foul shots came in the final 24 seconds when the Spurs were forced
to foul.
The Wolves still led by 11 when the third quarter buzzer
sounded. But the officials conferred, put four-tenths of a second
back on the clock and sent Terry Porter to the line.
He sank both free throws, cutting the Spurs' deficit to 83-74.
By the time Garnett ended the Spurs' 9-0 run, San Antonio had
made a game of it, at 83-78.
Duncan, who missed a game for the first time in his career
Friday night at Chicago, shot baskets and sat in a whirlpool in
hopes of returning to the lineup. But he told coach Gregg Popovich
an hour before the game that he'd better not risk it, disappointing
the crowd of 19,654, the second-biggest at Target Center this
season.
Duncan, who is averaging 23.9 points and 12.6 rebounds, is
day-to-day.
"Another day and hopefully he'll feel a little better,"
Popovich said. "We'll see for Miami how he feels on Tuesday."
Game notes
Brandon scored 14 in the first quarter as the Wolves made
17 of 23 shots for a 36-24 lead. ... Duncan, who started 186
consecutive games, was injured Monday night against Phoenix and
aggravated the injury Tuesday night against Charlotte. ... Wolves
forward Sam Mitchell missed his fifth straight game with a sprained
left ankle. He's also expected to miss Minnesota's game Tuesday
night against Charlotte. ... Bobby Jackson said he hasn't been told
why he's been relegated behind rookie William Avery as Brandon's
primary backup.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
San Antonio Clubhouse
Minnesota Clubhouse
RECAPS
Toronto 103
Phoenix 102
Milwaukee 102
Orlando 95
New York 89
Philadelphia 88
Portland 101
Utah 92
LA Lakers 101
Houston 85
Minnesota 102
San Antonio 98
Detroit 93
Chicago 90
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