So for now, what the Timberwolves see as their heated rivalry with the San Antonio Spurs remains, well, in the eyes of the grudge-holders.

It's true that the Spurs and the Wolves -- who play tonight at Target Center in a still-November NBA game worthy of some klieg lights -- pursue the same goals: the Midwest Division crown, Western Conference supremacy and ultimately the NBA championship.

But the Spurs have been there, done that. They beat the Knicks in the NBA Finals in 1999 and reached the conference finals last spring. The Wolves never have survived the first round. Over the past four years, San Antonio has posted a 204-65 record, compared to the Wolves' 167-129.

Back things up further: Since 1989-90, when the Wolves first began play, the Spurs have finished first or second in the division 11 times. The Wolves never have climbed higher than third.

What the Wolves view as a rivalry hinges largely on intangibles: The teams feature two of the most talented, versatile and coveted big men in the league in Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett. Both rosters are stocked with good citizens and fierce competitors, playing in somewhat neglected markets. Neither head coach played in the NBA, yet each connects with his players and rarely is challenged.

Oh, then there is that matter of two first-round eliminations, dealt to the Wolves by the Spurs in 1999 and 2001, each time in four games.