11/05/2008 - 07:31
Up Next: The Spurs
by Cherome Owens

No.1 will face a difficult task Wednesday night when his Wolves face a feisty San Antonio Spurs defense.

The Spurs (0-2) are desperately seeking their first win of the season against the Wolves (1-2), who have dropped two straight since their opening night win against the Sacramento Kings. San Antonio is known to hold opponents below their usual scoring averages, and proved that they are a tough team to beat with a 4-0 sweep against Minnesota last season.

Rashad will have to use his instant scoring firepower to put away the Spurs, who have beaten the Wolves five straight times. In three games against San Antonio last season, No.1 did a superb job, averaging 15.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. His play wasn’t enough to knock off the Spurs, who have tons of experience and veteran leadership in their starting lineup.

Coming off a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Rashad and the Wolves are looking forward to another win. So far, Rashad is the Wolves’ second-leading scorer at 12.0 points per game.

Here’s a look at what happened last year against the Spurs,

November 30, 2007
Rashad didn’t play due to an injury in the Wolves’ 106-91 loss at the Target Center. Despite his absence, the Wolves had the lead heading into the fourth quarter, but was outscored by the Spurs 30-11 in the final frame. After blowing a lead like that, Rashad would have probably felt the same way as Sebastian Telfair:

“It stings. It hurts. It hurts, because we put so much into preparing for the game and going out there and doing all the right things and just not finishing it off,’’ said Telfair.

January 12, 2008
No.1 started and played 40 minutes in a 105-88 loss at San Antonio. However, he was on fire, racking up fantasy line numbers of 17 points, six assist, five rebounds and two steals. He also knocked down three 3-pointers and finish 6-of-12 from the field.

February 21, 2008
Coming off the bench, Rashad played 33 minutes and notched 15 points and five rebounds in a close 100-99 loss at home. The Wolves almost stole a win from the Spurs but Manu Ginobili, who tallied 44 points, hit a jumper from the top of the key with 6.2 seconds left to give San Antonio the lead.

March 28, 2008
In another close game, No.1 put in 13 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals in 38 minutes of play at the AT&T Center. The Wolves went on an 18-2 run in the game to cut the Spurs’ lead to 63-60, but couldn’t get closer as San Anotonio outpaced Minnesota, 99-84.

RELATED STORIES
Spurs keep Wolves mired in slump behind Ginobili’s 31 (ESPN.com, November 30, 2007)
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=271130016
Spurs end two-game losing streak (ESPN.com, January 12, 2008)
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=280112024
Ginobili’s 44, late jumper sink Jefferson, Wolves (ESPN.com, February 21, 2008)
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=280221016
Spurs jump to West’s second spot, drop inept Wolves (ESPN.com, March 28, 2008)
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=280328024

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