Ginobili Scores 44, Hits Winning Shot in Spurs' 100-99 Win Over Wolves

Ginobili dribbled behind his back and rose up over Randy Foye on the winning shot.

Minnesota had a chance win, but Sebastian Telfair's long jumper clanked around the rim and out as the buzzer sounded.

Ginobili entered the game averaging 33 points in his last three games and his torrid streak in the second quarter helped carry the Spurs to their eighth win in their last nine games and seventh in their last eight road contests.

The shooting guard had 19 points in the second quarter, hitting six straight 3-pointers in the final 6:33 of the period. He also scored 10 of San Antonio's first 14 points in the fourth quarter.

Tim Duncan added 24 points and 14 rebounds for San Antonio, and Michael Finley had 13 points. Al Jefferson scored 28 points to lead the Wolves.

Tony Parker returned to the Spurs' lineup after missing three weeks because of an ankle injury. The point guard entered the game with 5:40 left in the first quarter and scored eight points on 3-for-7 shooting. Spurs coach Greg Popovich said before the game that he plans to work Parker into the lineup slowly and only played him 19 minutes.

The Spurs were without Kurt Thomas, acquired from Seattle on Wednesday.

Minnesota also made a trade before Thursday's deadline, sending seldom-used Gerald Green to Houston for Kirk Snyder and a second-round draft pick next year.

Notes:@ The Wolves didn't move veteran forward Antoine Walker. Walker is making $8.5 million this season and $9.3 million next and would've welcomed a trade to a contender. ... Spurs coach Greg Popovich said before the game that he doesn't anticipate any problems working Thomas into the regular rotation. "He's a veteran guy. It shouldn't be a problem," Popovich said. ... Jefferson topped the 2,000 career rebound mark in the third quarter.

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