11/06/2008 - 21:30
Battling Until the End
by Cherome Owens

The San Antonio Spurs, recent world champions, regular contenders, needed two overtimes to dispatch No. 1 and his talented Minnesota teammates, 129-125, on Wednesday night.

Strong to the hoop (Getty Images).

Rashad played just over a quarter against the experience-filled Spurs, but in just 13 minutes, did a little of everything, collecting seven points, one rebound, one assist and a block.

Tony Parker finished with 55 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, giving the Spurs their first win of the season.

Still, Rashad and the Wolves feel good about nearly winning against a powerhouse franchise like the Spurs. No.1’s teammate Mike Miller said the Spurs needed Parker to have the best game of his career to beat them:

“We’re getting chances. It took Tony making every shot for them. We’ve got to figure out what we’ve got to do to win games. We’ll just keep plugging away.”

Coach Randy Wittman was also satisfied with his team performance after almost giving the Spurs their first 0-4 start since the 1973-74 season, when they were members of the American Basketball Association:

“I told our guys at the end of the game we could easily be 3-1, but the reality is we’re 1-3 and we’ve got to keep fighting. I’m proud of their effort.”

NEXT UP
No.1 will try to repeat his performance from the first game of the season when the Wolves play the Sacramento Kings for the second time this year. This time, they’ll face off in Sacramento.

Rashad scored 15 points in a 98-96 win against the Kings in the season opener. Action is set for Friday at 9 p.m

RELATED STORIES
Parker’s jumper sends game to second OT as Spurs win (ESPN.com, November 5, 2008)
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=281105016
Spurs’ Parker lands historic haymaker, scores 55 against Timberwolves (TwinCities.com, November 6, 2008)
http://www.twincities.com/timberwolves/ci_10911336

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