Wolves blow big fourth quarter lead in loss vs. Spurs

DeMar DeRozan scored 30 points and the San Antonio Spurs rallied from a 16-point deficit to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 111-108 on Wednesday night.

Jakob Poeltl added 19 points and Dejounte Murray had 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Malik Beasley scored 29 points and D’Angelo Russell added 20 for Minnesota, which was outscored 32-18 in the final quarter. The Timberwolves dropped to 1-9 on the road this season.

The Spurs won for the first time when trailing by 15 or more points at any time in the game. San Antonio trailed until the final four minutes.

The Spurs went on a 22-7 run to open the fourth quarter and take their first lead at 101-99 on Poeltl’s layup with 4:16 remaining. Poeltl and DeRozan combined to score the remaining Spurs points in the final minutes to seal the win.

DeRozan fueled the run when he was fouled on a powerful one-handed dunk. His ensuing free throw pulled San Antonio within 99-93 with 6:29 left.

San Antonio closed a five-game homestand at 3-2 after dropping the previous two games against Memphis.

The Spurs were without veteran forwards LaMarcus Aldridge and Rudy Gay, who were both sidelined with hip injuries.

The Timberwolves entered the game having lost eight of their previous 10, but quickly built momentum.

Minnesota had four players score in taking a 12-6 lead five minutes into the game. Minnesota was 4 for 8 on 3-pointers in the opening quarter and finished 13 for 32 overall.

San Antonio has trailed by 10 points in 59% of its games this season and was 0-8 this season when trailing by 15 points or more.

TIP-INS

Timberwolves: Minnesota is 10-52 against the Spurs in San Antonio. … The Timberwolves have two of their three most productive opening quarters against the Spurs. Minnesota matched a season high with 34 points against San Antonio on Jan. 9 and came within a point of matching that mark on Wednesday.

Spurs: Aldridge missed the game with a right hip flexor and soreness in that hip. Gay sat with a left hip flexor and tightness in that hip. … Rookie guard Devin Vassell joined Tony Parker as the only players in franchise history with 20-plus 3-pointers and 20-plus steals in his first 20 games with the Spurs. … The Spurs play their first road game since Jan. 20 when they face Houston on Saturday. San Antonio was scheduled to play Jan. 25 in New Orleans, but the game was canceled due to health and safety protocols with the Pelicans.

UP NEXT

Timberwolves: Continue five-game road trip Friday at Oklahoma City.

Spurs: At Houston Rockets on Saturday.