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Spurs hoping to end early-season struggles

Nov 5, 2008 - 2:47 PM San Antonio (0-3) at Minnesota (1-2) 8:00 p.m. EST

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The San Antonio Spurs' reign as an elite team may be running its course.

The Spurs try to earn their first victory of the season when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.

San Antonio has won three titles in the last six seasons after claiming its first championship in 1998-99. Things have not gone well early this season, however, and the team is now a loss away from its first 0-4 start since 1973-74.

The Spurs suffered an embarrassing 98-81 home loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday as they continue to struggle on defense.

San Antonio held the opposition to an average of 90.6 points per game last season - the third best mark in the NBA.

The Spurs have surrendered an average of 101.5 points thus far.

A big part of San Antonio's scoring woes is the absence of Manu Ginobili, who led the team with 19.5 points per game last season. The reigning Sixth Man Award winner is out until December after undergoing left ankle surgery in September.

San Antonio has outscored Minnesota by just over 13 points en route to winning each of the last five contests between the teams.

The Timberwolves are coming off a tough 88-85 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. Minnesota held a 12-point lead in that one, but scored only two points in the final five minutes to suffer their second consecutive setback.