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Spurs visit Wolves in back end of home-and-home set

Jan 11, 2011 - 3:46 PM (Sports Network) - Something has to give for the Minnesota Timberwolves in their unsuccessful history against the San Antonio Spurs. Having been knocked to the canvas 15 straight times by the Spurs, the Timberwolves look to deal a knockout blow tonight in the finale of a home-and-home set in the Twin Cities.

Minnesota has dropped 15 in a row, 20 of 21 and 25 of the previous 30 meetings between the teams, including Sunday's 94-91 defeat in the Alamo City. Kevin Love posted 18 points and 17 boards for Minnesota, which has lost four in a row overall. Darko Milicic added 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Luke Ridnour ended with 16 points, seven assists, and six rebounds.

"I've said this all along about the Spurs. They just find a way to win," Love said. "They're extremely well-coached."

The Wolves' three losses this season to the Spurs have been decided by a combined 13 points. San Antonio will try to sweep the season series for a fourth consecutive year.

Timberwolves forward and leading scorer Michael Beasley (21.9 ppg) left Sunday's game in the second quarter with a sprained left ankle and is doubtful for tonight. He scored just two points and did not practice Monday.

San Antonio will also visit Milwaukee after tonight's game and is 11-4 away from the AT&T Center this season. It improved to an NBA-best 31-6 on the season with the latest triumph over Minnesota, as Manu Ginobili finished with 21 points and seven rebounds to lead the Southwest Division leaders.

Antonio McDyess and Richard Jefferson both scored 13 points for the Spurs, who have won two in a row since dropping consecutive games to New York and Boston and are 6-2 in the past eight contests. Tony Parker, Matt Bonner and George Hill registered 11 points apiece in the scrappy win.

"We've had our hands full trying to get our three wins against them this year and it's going to be even harder to get that fourth," Bonner said post-game.

The Spurs are off to the best 37-game start in franchise history and their scoring average of 105.0 points is the highest since a 106.6 ppg-clip in the 1994-95 campaign. Ginobili continues to be a reliable player and has scored in double figures in 34 of 37 games in 2010-11.

San Antonio has won seven in a row and nine of 10 visits to Minnesota, where the Timberwolves own a 7-10 mark this season.