NBA: Victor Wembanyama, Spurs handle short-handed Wolves

Victor Wembanyama poured in a season-high 43 points to help the host San Antonio Spurs defeat the short-handed Minnesota Timberwolves 121-111 on Saturday for their fourth straight victory.

The Timberwolves, already missing star Anthony Edwards (knee) and Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles surgery), also played without defensive stopper Rudy Gobert due to low back spasms and lost for the third time in four games.

The Spurs trailed by a point at halftime before taking a five-point lead into the fourth quarter. San Antonio used a 12-2 run to expand its advantage to 101-88, but the Timberwolves refused to relent, pulling within four on Jaden McDaniels' jumper with 6:49 to play.

The Spurs answered with a 6-2 spurt, and Minnesota never seriously threatened again. Wembanyama's 3-pointer with 2:40 left put San Antonio up 118-107. Wembanyama also had seven rebounds and six blocks.

Dylan Harper added 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists for the Spurs, while De'Aaron Fox scored 22 points and added eight rebounds and seven assists. Reserve Julian Champagnie scored 12.

Ayo Dosunmu led the Timberwolves with 27 points and nine rebounds. McDaniels and Jonathan Kuminga tallied 19 points each, Joan Beringer had 12, and Jaylen Clark and LaMelo Ball scored 10 apiece for Minnesota. Ball was 2-for-10 from the field before fouling out.

San Antonio led for most of the first quarter, pushing its advantage to 10 on Fox's three-point play with 36 seconds left before settling for a 34-28 edge.

The Spurs extended the margin to 46-35 after Julian Champagnie made three free throws at the 8:47 mark of the second quarter. Minnesota responded with a 16-0 run, capped by Trey Lyles' two free throws with 4:12 left in the quarter that gave the Timberwolves a 51-46 lead.

Minnesota built its advantage to seven before back-to-back 3-pointers by Wembanyama brought San Antonio within 61-60 at halftime.

Wembanyama's 24 first-half points led all scorers, while Fox had 10. Dosunmu's 14 points paced the Timberwolves, and McDaniels added 13.

The Spurs moved back in front early in the third quarter and led 73-65 when Harper hammered home a dunk at the 7:54 mark. San Antonio stretched its advantage to 10, but a 3-pointer by Kuminga helped pull the Timberwolves within 93-88 heading into the fourth quarter.

--Field Level Media/Reuters