Leonard, Spurs beat up Wolves for 7th straight win

Minnesota Timberwolves’ Kevin Garnett, right, drives by San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015, in Minneapolis. AP

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota—Kawhi Leonard had 19 points and six rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs bullied the young Minnesota Timberwolves in the paint during a 108-83 victory Wednesday night.

Danny Green broke out of a season-long shooting slump with 11 points, including 3 for 4 from 3-point range, and seven rebounds in the seventh straight victory for the Spurs (25-5). San Antonio outrebounded Minnesota 47-31 and outscored the Wolves 54-24 in the paint to breeze to the win.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Timberwolves (11-18). Zach LaVine scored 17, but the Wolves were just 3 of 10 from 3-point range while the Spurs went 10 for 24.

Green entered the game shooting 29.5 percent from 3-point range. But he hit his first 3 from deep.

The Golden State Warriors have grabbed all the early attention with their 24-game winning streak to start the season, and the Spurs have only been too happy to lay in the shadows while they work to get prized free agent LaMarcus Aldridge and veteran David West incorporated into a system that has been the NBA’s gold standard over the last two decades.

They’ve picked up steam over the last two weeks, eviscerating opponents on both ends of the court to assert themselves as legitimate challengers to the defending champion Warriors in the West.

Leonard is a serious MVP candidate, Aldridge is starting to find a groove and Tony Parker is back to the whirling dervish who sliced and diced the NBA for a decade before injuries slowed him last season. Parker entered the game shooting 56 percent from the field and made six of 11 shots for 14 points against the Wolves.

San Antonio’s defense also clamped down on Andrew Wiggins, holding him to 2-for-11 shooting and blocking at least five of his drives to the basket. The Timberwolves lost by 15 points or more for the first time this season.

Aldridge had 12 points and eight rebounds, and West scored 13 for San Antonio.

The Spurs were up 14 at halftime, but Minnesota came out with a 6-0 burst to start the third quarter and cut the deficit to single digits. San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich pulled one of his patented line changes, benching all five starters for his second unit. Manu Ginobili and Co. responded with a 15-3 run to end any hopes of a Wolves comeback.