Big third quarter vaults Wolves past Spurs

Karl-Anthony Towns poured in 29 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to help the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves to a 117-110 come-from-behind victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday in the teams' first game in the NBA In-Season Tournament.

Minnesota won its fifth straight game and first away from home. The Spurs dropped their fourth consecutive outing despite 29 points by rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama.

The Timberwolves led by two points at halftime but took control in the third quarter behind their dynamic scoring duo of Towns (who scored 13 points in the period) and Edwards (who had seven in the third). Minnesota outscored the Spurs by 15 in the period, then never let its advantage fall below six points until the final minute of the game.

Anthony Edwards added 28 points for the Timberwolves, with Rudy Gobert racking up 11 points and 10 rebounds, Mike Conley scoring 11 points and Jaden McDaniels hitting for 10.

Devin Vassell tied a career high with 29 points for the Spurs while Jeremy Sochan scored 14 and Zach Collins added 11.

The Spurs led from the jump and were ahead by as many as nine points after a Vassell jumper at the 8:41 mark of the first quarter. Minnesota cut its deficit to 27-22 when Kyle Anderson cut to the basket for a dunk on mini-breakaway and was within five points at the end of the period.

Edwards began to heat up late in the second quarter, hitting back-to-back 3-pointers that leapfrogged the Timberwolves to a 48-46 lead with 2:23 to play.

The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the half, with Conley's 27-foot 3-pointer with eight seconds remaining granting Minnesota a 56-54 lead at the break.

Vassell's 15 points led all scorers at the half and Wembanyama added 11 for the Spurs. Edwards led the Timberwolves with 12 points before halftime while Towns hit for 11 over the first two quarters.

Minnesota carried its late first-half momentum into the third quarter, opening the period with a 13-5 run punctuated by a Towns free throw with 7:08 remaining.