SAN ANTONIO - Manu Ginobili scored 22 points, and the San Antonio Spurs held Kevin Garnett to just one second-half basket in their 96-82 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night.<br>
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The Spurs, who trailed by double digits in the first half, made 11 of their 18 shots in the fourth quarter to break open a tie game. Minnesota, which shot 53 percent in the first half, made only three of 14 shots in the period.<br>
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Tim Duncan added 19 points and 10 rebounds for San Antonio, and Tony Parker also scored 19 points.<br>
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Wally Szczerbiak had 22 for Minnesota, which dropped its fourth straight road game. Garnett scored 15 points on 4-for-16 shooting and had 10 rebounds, while Troy Hudson added 14 points. Michael Olowokandi had 12 rebounds. <br>
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Trailing by eight at halftime, the Spurs began the third quarter with a 12-2 run - capped by a putback by Robert Horry that gave San Antonio a 55-53 lead with 7:20 left. The Spurs held the Timberwolves to 32 percent shooting and forced five turnovers in the period.<br>
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Rasho Nesterovic, scoreless in five attempts in the first half, made three straight shots and had three blocks in the second half.<br>
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The Spurs, coming off a six-point loss Wednesday in Orlando in which they missed 13 of 26 free throws, made 16 of 19 from the line against Minnesota.<br>
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Ginobili hit a pair of 3-pointers as San Antonio opened up a 14-8 lead, their biggest of the first half. <br>
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The Timberwolves missed five of their first seven shots, but then made 12 of their next 13 attempts.<br>
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Hudson made a 17-footer near the end of the first quarter for his first basket. He followed with a layup and two 3-pointers to start the second, and then found Mark Madsen for a three-point play that put Minnesota ahead 40-28.<br>
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The Spurs got within 47-43 on a three-point play by Parker on a drive, but Garnett made two free throws and a 15-footer to close the half at 51-43.<br>
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Notes:@ After giving up 22 points on turnovers in Wednesday's loss to Orlando, San Antonio allowed only nine points on 10 turnovers. ... The 82 points matched Minnesota's season low. ... The Timberwolves are 6-8 when scoring fewer than 100 points.
