DeRozan leads Spurs past Wolves 112-108; Butler scores 23
Sin my rookie DeRozan said.
Aldridge shot 7 for 23 from the field, and had three blocked shots and 11 defensive rebounds.
“He’s a great passer,” Aldridge said of DeRozan. “He’s always looking and probing and I’m too open. I have to get used to being ready and just taking my time. When I figure it out (and) I get my rhythm back, it’s going to be way easier out there to score having him.”
Rudy Gay had 18 points and Bryn Forbes had 11 points in his first start at point guard for the Spurs.
Jeff Teague scored 27 points and Andrew Wiggins added 20 points for the Timberwolves. Karl-Anthony Towns picked up his third foul with 2 minutes left in the first half and fouled out with 4:18 remaining in the game and the Spurs up 9992. Towns finished with eight points and nine rebounds in 22 minutes. TIP-INS
Timberwolves: Teague was down on the court for about 10 seconds in the fourth quarter after tweaking his right ankle on an offensive foul, but gave officials a thumbs-up and
year,” remained in the game . ... Minnesota is 3-10 all-time when opening the season on the road . ... The Timberwolves are 9-50 against the Spurs in San Antonio. Their last win in San Antonio was April 17, 2013.
Spurs: San Antonio had eight new players on its roster for the season opener for the first time since 1992. The Spurs finished 42-33 that season after firing Jerry Tarkanian 20 games into the campaign. ... DeRozan has played 23,000 minutes in his career, joining Aldridge, LeBron James, James Harden and Russell Westbrook as the only players to do so since 2009 . ... Poeltl made just his fifth career start and first since Feb. 14 2017 with Toronto.
PAYING HOMAGE TO ALLEN
The Spurs observed a moment of silence prior to the game for Portland Trail Blazers and Seattle Seahawks owner Paul Allen.
Allen passed away Oct. 15 from complications of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Aldridge, who played his first nine seasons in Portland before signing with the Spurs in 2015, said it will be difficult to return to the city after Allen’s passing.
“He was a great guy and he blessed me and my family and invited us into his world at times,” Aldridge said. “I went to the game against Green Bay in his suite. It’s definitely bittersweet going back this time.”
JERSEY NEEDED DeRozan has been taken aback by the love the Spurs fans have shown him.
“It’s crazy, I tried to get my mom a jersey last week and it was sold out,” DeRozan said. “I was trying to tell her that and she didn’t believe me.”
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE
Popovich was asked if this could be his final year coaching in the NBA and he responded with his usual dry wit.
“Anything can happen. I might coach 10 more years or quit in a month,” he said.
UP NEXT Timberwolves: Host Cleveland on Friday night.
Spurs: At Portland on Saturday night.
AN ANTONIO (AP) — DeMar DeRozan re sponded to a trade he didn’t want with his usual boundless energy and fearless style in the fourth quarter for San Antonio. Jimmy Butler hasn’t received a trade he’s requested, and turned in a similar performance for Minnesota.