MINNEAPOLIS Danny Ferry guided the San Antonio Spurs into the Western Conference semifinals, hitting three clutch 3-pointers down the stretch in his team's 97-84 win over the Timberwolves on Monday.

The Spurs wrapped up the best-of-five series in four games, with the "Twin Towers" taking a back seat despite still coming up big as Ferry scored 14 of his 16 points after halftime.

Tim Duncan and David Robinson controlled the paint and the tempo of the game, but Minnesota were able to stay in touch until Ferr Antonio opened a 71-61 lead with 55 seconds left.

According to Reuters, the Timberwolves closed within a basket on back-to-back 3-pointers by Anthony Peeler with 5:31 left in the fourth quarter, but Robinson sank two jumpers around a Minnesota turnover to consolidate the lead.

Minnesota climbed back to 79-75, but Duncan made two free throws and, after Peeler missed another 3-pointer, Ferry drained one from the left corner to open an 84-75 lead with 3:15 remaining.

Duncan scored five points in the final 2:29 to secure the victory for San Antonio, which is hoping for history to repeat itself after they defeated Minnesota in four games on the way to winning the NBA title in 1999.

Duncan, who saw little time in game three due to foul trouble, had 24 points and 16 rebounds but made just 8-of-23 shots from the floor. He was 8-of-12 from the line.

Robinson scored 21 points on 6-of-10 shooting and grabbed 14 boards.

The Timberwolves were knocked out in the first round for the fifth consecutive season.

Wally Szczerbiak scored 20 points and Kevin Garnett 19, but the duo combined for just five points in the final period for Minnesota.

Terrell Brandon had 17 points, six rebounds and six assists as the Timberwolves fell to 5-15 all-time in the playoffs.