SAN ANTONIO — Kawhi Leonard scored a team-high 15 points as San Antonio defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 123-97 Sunday night at the AT&T Center.
The forward was one of seven San Antonio players to score in double figures as the Spurs (41-24) completed a four-game season sweep of Minnesota (14-51). The Spurs earned their seventh win in eight games.
Guard Kevin Martin scored 19 points and guard Zach LaVine added 18 for the Timberwolves, who were missing many players on the final game of a four-game road trip. Minnesota lost its fourth game in a row.
The Spurs pulled away in the third quarter behind a 13-0 run. The Wolves only shot 27.3 percent in the third, while the Spurs made 63.6 of their field goals while outscoring Minnesota 33-13 in the period.
Spurs guard Manu Ginobili had to be helped off the court late in the third quarter, and he did not return. He sustained a sprained right ankle with 43 seconds left in the quarter and with the Spurs up by 30 points.
He was taken immediately to the locker room and did not put any weight on his right leg. He finished the game with 11 points in 19 minutes.
San Antonio forward Jeff Ayres sustained a rib contusion in the second half and also sat out the rest of the contest.
Sunday night marked the first time San Antonio stepped back on the court after Cleveland beat the Spurs 128-125 in overtime Thursday behind a 57-point performance by guard Kyrie Irving. The loss snapped the Spurs’ six game winning streak.
Minnesota dressed only eight players. Forward Kevin Garnett (knee), guard Ricky Rubio (ankle) and center Nikola Pekovic (ankle) were all ruled out by coach Flip Saunders before the game.
The Spurs took advantage of the depleted lineup and jumped out to a quick 8-2 lead behind guard Tony Parker, who made his first four shots of the game. Minnesota trailed 60-50 at halftime.
The Spurs led by as many as 39 points in the fourth quarter.
NOTES: Minnesota F Kevin Garnett (knee) missed his fourth game in a row. … Spurs G Manu Ginobili was back in action against Minnesota after battling a stomach illness that caused him to miss the team’s game against Toronto on Tuesday and play less than 10 minutes against Cleveland on Thursday. … San Antonio moved percentage points ahead of the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Clippers for fifth place in the Western Conference standings. The Clippers lost Sunday, while the Mavericks were idle.