Timberwolves Vs. Spurs Final Score: Minnesota Finishes Strong To Beat San Antonio 87-79

Forget potential, for the Minnesota Timberwolves the future was now as Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love teamed up to take down the San Antonio Spurs 87-79 on Friday night.

The Southwest Division-leading Spurs started the game strong but eventually both teams settled into a tight affair with the Spurs leading by one after each of the first two quarters before taking a tied game into the fourth quarter. Minnesota took a six-point lead early in the fourth quarter but San Antonio came back to tie things up at 79-79 with just over three minutes remaining in the game.

That's when Rubio and Love took over, fueling an 8-0 run by the Wolves to close the game and secure the big W in front of an approving Target Center crowd. Rubio sparked the run scoring the first four points and then finding Love for a layup. The Spurs had no answer and Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Richard Jefferson took turns trying to answer but continued to come up empty.

Rubio finished the game with 18 points and 10 assists including some beautiful bounce passes through traffic for easy buckets at the rim. Love added his patented double-double with 18 points and 16 rebounds, but was joined in the double-double ranks by Nikola Pekovic with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Parker led the way for the Spurs with 20 points and three assists while Duncan finished with nine points and 10 rebounds.

Minnesota has a day to enjoy this victory as they prepare for another high-profile guest on Sunday when Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers visit.

For more on the Minnesota Timberwolves, check out Canis Hoopus. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NBA hub at SBNation.com/NBA.

Timberwovles Vs. Spurs Score Update: San Antonio Leads Minnesota 42-41 At Halftime

It took awhile for the Minnesota Timberwolves to get going but they were able to hang around and stay in touch with the San Antonio Spurs to trail by just one point, 42-41 at the half.

The Wolves were scoreless in the first three minutes of the game but the Spurs were only able to mount a six-point lead during the first quarter, which the Wolves closed to 22-21 by the end of the quarter. The teams continued a tight and spirited game throughout the remainder of the half.

The Spurs finished the half shooting 46% compared to Minnesota's 40.5%, but the Wolves did their damage on the glass, collecting nine offensive rebounds compared to San Antonio's one extra chance. Kevin Love finished the half with six points and 8 rebounds but only had two of those offensive boards. Nikola Pekovic did the rest of damage with five of his seven first-half rebounds coming on the offensive end. Ricky Rubio is setting the pace for Minnesota with seven points and four assists.

Richard Jefferson has 10 points for San Antonio while Tim Duncan pitched in six points and six rebounds.

For more on the Minnesota Timberwolves, check out Canis Hoopus. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NBA hub at SBNation.com/NBA.

Timberwolves Vs. Spurs: Michael Beasley A Game-Time Decision, Luke Ridnour Available

The Minnesota Timberwolves took the first meeting against the San Antonio Spurs this season, but the second meeting could certainly be different. While they're both winners in their last outing, the Timberwolves could be without at least one of their key contributors in that first meeting. According to the Star Tribune, Michael Beasley is a game-time decision:

Webster, Miller and Ridnour all available for @wolves tonight. Beasley game-time call. Barea and Lee out.

Beasley has been out since Jan. 6 with a sprained right foot, and it's significant that he could be back for this game because he was such a contributor in the first meeting. Beasley had 19 points in the first outing between these two teams, giving the Timberwovles their first win over the Spurs since 2007.

It's also significant that Luke Ridnour is back in action after missing their last outing, a win over the Dallas Mavericks. Ridnour, like Beasley, had 19 points against the Spurs in the first outing between these two teams.

For more on the Minnesota Timberwolves, check out Canis Hoopus. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NBA hub at SBNation.com/NBA.

Timberwolves Vs. Spurs: Minnesota Tries To Build On Dallas Victory As They Face San Antonio

The Timberwolves try and beat the San Antonio Spurs for the second time this season on Friday evening.