Tim Duncan had 16 points before the Spurs emptied their bench early and stayed on track to avoid the dreaded No. 8 seed in the Western Conference and a first-round meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Spurs can clinch at least the No. 7 seed with a win in their regular season finale Wednesday against Dallas -- a game that could also be a playoff preview.

Oklahoma City and Portland are also jockeying to avoid the Lakers in one of the closest West playoff races in years.

Sasha Pavlovic led the Wolves with 16 points.

Malik Hairston and Ian Mahinmi had 14 points apiece for the Spurs, who had eight players in double figures.

Ramon Sessions had 13 points and 10 assists for Minnesota (15-66), which has just one chance left to avoid tying the franchise record for fewest wins.

Minnesota's dreadful season ends Wednesday against Detroit. If the Timberwolves don't win, they'll tie the 1991-92 team for worst record in the 21-year history of the franchise.

The Spurs are coming up on a fewest-victory mark of their own. Regardless of what happens Wednesday in Dallas, the Spurs (50-31) will enter the playoffs with the fewest regular-season victories since Duncan came into the league in 1997.

But there are brighter spots.

For one, blowing out Minnesota gave the Spurs their 11th consecutive season with at least 50 wins. San Antonio is now one shy of the record held by the Lakers, who had 12 straight seasons of 50-plus wins from 1979-1991.

San Antonio is also taking comfort in playing its best basketball after a plodding and underachieving start. The Spurs have won 19 of 27, including victories over five division leaders in the a span of a little more than two weeks.

They can make it a sweep of all six with a win Wednesday over the Mavericks, who have wrapped up the Southwest. Dallas and San Antonio could also be headed to a rematch of last season's first-round matchup depending on how the playoff seedings shake out.

But Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said he's not yet looking at scenarios.

"I did a little early, but anymore now I don't pay attention," Popovich said before the game. "You just have to take care of business, and wherever you land, you land."

Al Jefferson and Wayne Ellington scored 13 apiece for the Wolves.

Notes: The Spurs finished the regular season with a 29-12 record at home. ...The Spurs are 19-2 against the Timberwolves since the 2004-05, and haven't lost at home to Minnesota in six years. ...Minnesota finished 5-36 on the road and lost their final 12 away from home.