Short-handed Timberwolves fall 121-111 in San Antonio as Wembanyama scores 43
Without Edwards, Gobert and DiVincenzo, the Timberwolves led at the half but lost 121-111 at San Antonio. They drop to 4-3 before hosting Milwaukee.
The Minnesota Timberwolves went into San Antonio on Halloween without three regulars and still led at halftime. The second half got away from them. Victor Wembanyama scored 43 points and the Spurs pulled away for a 121-111 win, dropping Minnesota to 4-3 and handing the Wolves their third loss in four games.
As Pounding The Rock of SB Nation reported, Minnesota played without Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert and Donte DiVincenzo. Chris Finch put more of the load on LaMelo Ball, whom the outlet described as newly acquired. It did not go well for him. Ball picked up four fouls in the first half, eventually fouled out and finished with 10 points and eight rebounds.
The Wolves stayed in it anyway. San Antonio's defense held them to 37 percent shooting in the first quarter and jumped out to an 11-2 lead, but Minnesota answered with an 11-0 run to briefly go ahead. The Spurs later built a double-digit lead, and Minnesota cut into it by forcing turnovers. San Antonio had four of its 15 giveaways in the second quarter, and the Wolves went to the locker room up by one.
After halftime, San Antonio took over. The Spurs won the second half by 11 points, including 28-23 in the fourth quarter. Wembanyama had 24 points by halftime. Dylan Harper finished with 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists, and De'Aaron Fox added 22 points, eight rebounds and seven assists while hitting shots each time Minnesota threatened. Fox pointed to the attention Wembanyama draws, saying "his gravity is like Steph," according to Pounding The Rock. Julian Champagnie scored 12 off the bench for San Antonio, which has now won four straight after an 0-2 start.
For Minnesota, the loss was more about who was missing than how the team competed. Without its leading scorer, its starting center and a rotation guard, the team held a lead in the third quarter on the road against a team on a winning streak. A 10-point loss under those conditions says less about the Wolves than their two close home-and-road losses earlier in the week.
What it means for Monday against Milwaukee
The Wolves come home to face the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, November 2. Minnesota opened 3-0, beating Miami by 25, Orlando by 22 and Toronto by 23. It has gone 1-3 since. The losses were 127-125 at Cleveland, 119-114 at home to Golden State and now Saturday's 10-point loss in San Antonio. The only win in that stretch was a 127-101 rout of the Clippers at Target Center.
The season numbers are better than the record. Through seven games Minnesota is scoring 120.0 points a night and allowing 108.7, a margin of about 11 points per game. Two of the three losses came by five points or fewer. The Wolves are 2-1 at home so far.
The main question for Monday is who is available. Pounding The Rock's report did not give timelines for Edwards, Gobert or DiVincenzo, so their status against the Bucks is not yet known. If they stay out, Minnesota will again lean on Ball, and his foul trouble in San Antonio is the first thing to watch. If they return, the team that went 3-0 to open the season should be at full strength against Milwaukee.
Follow the season on the Timberwolves team page.
