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Box scores can be misleading, and the one for this game — a 17-point loss — would probably do the same to the stat sheet watchers. Despite that, the Spurs have a sense of pride about them because they made the game entertaining after the Timberwolves nearly blew it open early. But like a young fighter facing an opponent levels above, the Spurs were always behind and ran out of options and counters by the end of the third quarter.
The crew still kept competing even as the game moved into garbage time. The Timberwolves had eight scorers surpassing double figures, five before the fourth quarter. It wouldn’t have changed the outcome if he had started, but it’s comical at this point that Stephon Castle keeps playing behind Chris Paul. The former is the more athletic and stronger player and actually part of the future. The team shouldn’t wait nearly half the opening quarter for him to check in and then start guarding the top opposing perimeter player.
### Takeaways
* The Timberwolves were bigger, stronger and faster. They scored 30 second-chance points, which is the most logged against San Antonio this year, and three of them had double-digits in the paint. With Jeremy Sochan, Harrison Barnes, Bismack Biyombo and Sandro Mamukelashvili as the main muscle, the crew couldn’t offer much resistance on switches or straight up against Julius Randle, Naz Reid and Rudy Gobert, of all people, at close range.
* The Spurs’ perimeter defense was non-existent, as they gave up the most made 3-pointers of the season (21). Minnesota’s drive-and-kick game was also a factor as it created overreactions. Anthony Edwards caused the most damage with his deep jumper plus on catch-and-go moves and drive-by’s to the paint. Sochan, who is one of the team’s best perimeter defenders, had a tough time guarding him.
* Despite Julian Champagnie not being able to get a clean look, the Spurs made 40 percent of 3-point tries through the first three quarters. The Timberwolves keyed in on this in the beginning of the fourth, preventing the Spurs’ most likely avenue for a comeback.
* Jaden McDaniels, who is 6’ 9, was a mismatch as he was guarded by Paul, Fox and Devin Vassell who never had a chance of bothering his release point. His connecting passes also cut up the Spurs.
* It doesn’t make sense that two of the Spurs’ best guys available, Sochan and Barnes, played seven and five minutes fewer than their average. Sochan was the team’s best screener before garbage time, racking up multiple screen assists, too. The only thing that would make sense is if they are being saved for tonight’s game against the Mavericks.
* De’Aaron Fox had a nice first half, putting defenders on his back hip and made three 3-point shots, but lowered his RPMs after intermission. Notably, the pace of the game was slowest in the second frame, which was also the Spurs’ best stretch of the night, making 70.6 percent of attempts, including five straight shots.
* The main positive is that Castle keeps making a leap as a scorer. Finishing was his biggest issue this season, and this was his fifth game in the last six making at least 20 points. He looked like a future go-to option, thriving on drive-bys and pick-and-roll, even as the screener. He was playing so well that the Minnesota broadcast opined that he is the runaway favorite for Rookie of the Year honors.