SAN ANTONIO vs. MINNESOTA

SCHEDULE

Today at San Antonio, 2:30 p.m.

Monday at San Antonio, 6:30 p.m.

April 28 at Minnesota, 2:30 p.m.

April 30 at Minnesota, TBD*

May 3 at San Antonio, TBD*

* if necessary; TBD--to be determined.

THE BREAKDOWN

* Team records (seeds): (1) San Antonio 58-24, (8) Minnesota 47-35.

* Season series: Spurs, 3-1; Nov. 2--at San Antonio 103, Minnesota 91; Nov. 17--at Minnesota 99, San Antonio 94 (OT); Feb. 16--San Antonio 91, at Minnesota 85; March 14--at San Antonio 106, Minnesota 100 (OT).

* Head coaches: Gregg Popovich (fifth season), Flip Saunders (sixth season).

* Scouting report: The gutty little Timberwolves, making their fifth consecutive postseason appearance, haven’t been past the first round and aren’t likely to start now. Not that the Spurs are happy to see them, since long-armed Kevin Garnett is one of the few who can guard Tim Duncan. Garnett’s teammates, following his lead, compete ferociously but they’re runty (they often started 6-foot-6 wide-body Reggie Slater at center) and opening against the Twin Towers isn’t their dream matchup either. The Spurs were good this season but not great, and skeptics still wonder how Derek Anderson handles his first round of postseason pressure.

* Prediction: Spurs, 3-1.

PROBABLE SPUR STARTERS

F Tim Duncan 22.2 pts, 12.2 reb

F Danny Ferry 5.6 pts, 2.8 reb

C David Robinson 14.4 pts, 8.6 reb

G Derek Anderson 15.5 pts, 3.7 ast

G Terry Porter 7.2 pts, 3.1 ast

KEY RESERVES

Antonio Daniels 9.4 pts, 3.8 ast

Sean Elliott 7.9 pts, 3.3 reb

Malik Rose 7.7 pts, 5.5 reb

Samaki Walker 5.3 pts, 4.0 reb

Avery Johnson 5.6 pts, 4.3 ast

PROBABLE TIMBERWOLF STARTERS

F Kevin Garnett 22.4 pts, 11.9 reb, 5.0 ast

F Wally Szczerbiak 14.0 pts, 5.5 reb

C Dean Garrett 2.5 pts, 3.1 reb

G Felipe Lopez 7.9 pts

G Terrell Brandon 16.0 pts. 7.5 ast

KEY RESERVES

F LaPhonso Ellis 9.4 pts, 6.0 reb

F Reggie Slater 4.6 pts, 3.4 reb

G Anthony Peeler 10.5 pts

G Chauncey Billups 9.3 pts, 3.4 ast

*--*

THE MATCHUPS SAN MIN Avg. points 96.2 (12) 97.3 (7) Avg. points allowed 88.4 (3) 96.0 (14) Avg. rebounds 44.1 (9) 42.3 (16) Opp. avg. rebounds 41.5 (9) 42.3 (13) Field goal % .461 (4) .458 (6) Opp. field goal % .419 (2) .452 (22) Free throw % .715 (25) .785 (4) Three point % .407 (1) .357 (9)

*--*

Research by Roy Jurgens