PREVIEW: The San Antonio Spurs (27-11) travel to Minnesota to face the Timberwolves (25-14) , with both squads battling fatigue on the second night of a back-to-back. San Antonio is rolling with confidence after beating the Lakers and Celtics , while Minnesota is coming off a painful road loss to Cleveland . Defensively, the Spurs rank among the league's best at preventing attacking rim opportunities, though they struggle against shots at the basket (ranked 24th). Minnesota's defense allows quality three-point attempts at an elite rate (ranked 28th), a potential vulnerability the Spurs can exploit. The Spurs have shown a tendency to elevate their play against stronger competition recently , and San Antonio is a solid 6-3 as a road underdog this season. The Timberwolves feature efficient rim attacking capabilities (ranked 7th) but shoot poorly from the free throw line at just 75.9% (ranked 26th). Minnesota will play their fourth game in six days, potentially creating scheduling disadvantages. The Timberwolves are 2.5-point favorites , setting up an intriguing matchup where depth and momentum may prove decisive in a tight contest.