Wolves lose 3rd straight, 106-88 at San Antonio

Do you feel it slipping away already?

Yes, the Wolves are only two games below .500, for the first time since they lost to the Clippers in L.A. on Nov. 28.

But they've lost three straight -- all on the road, though -- by an average of 17.3 points.

In their last four, they've allowed 31 points on 58.2 percent shooting in the fourth quarters.

Tonight, they trailed by four points late in the third and by 13 three minutes into the fourth on a night when the Spurs lost Manu Ginobili to a strained hamstring late in the first half and with Tony Parker leading the way outran the Wolves 32-10 in fast-break points.

Luke Ridnour said after the game that he doesn't want to hear any more talk about how shorthanded the Wolves are playing, but until -- or if -- help arrives either by signing a free agent such as Mickael Gelabale or a meaningful trade...

They will come home afte1Monday's game at Dallas to play nine of the next 12 at home, but that stretch starts with the Clippers and Houston.

Hayward played 8 1/2 minutes.

Here's the game story from tonight.

And here's the notebook with the main item on Barea's return.

A few other quick things:

* Ricky Rubio played right up to a 22-minute limit and even though he had three steals, he went 0-for-6 from the field and continues to show this recovery is indeed going to be a slow process.

* Tim Duncan looked like it was 2002 all over again, with seven blocked shots. When asked what got into him, he said, well, they kept coming at him.

That's all from San Antonio.