The Minnesota Timberwolves are approaching the longest losing streak in franchise history. A matchup with the San Antonio Spurs only figures to move them closer.

The Timberwolves look to avoid a 13th straight loss on Tuesday night when they face the Spurs in San Antonio, where they haven't won in nearly five years.

This figured to be a difficult season for Minnesota (4-22), but losses in 22 of its first 26 games seemed very unlikely. The Timberwolves, though, have dropped 12 in a row since beating Oklahoma City 105-103 on Nov. 28, with seven of those losses coming under Kevin McHale, who replaced Randy Wittman as coach on Dec. 8.

Minnesota lost a franchise-record 16 straight in 1992, and had another 16-game skid in 1994 that spanned two seasons.

While the losing continued on Saturday, the Wolves did put forth a strong performance in a 109-102 defeat to Houston.

Al Jefferson dominated Yao Ming in the post on his way to a season-high 34 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks. Even another 24 points from Randy Foye wasn't enough as the Rockets made 12 3-pointers and shot 52.7 percent (39-for-74) from the field.

"Keep your head up, keep fighting," Jefferson said. "That's all you've got to do."

Jefferson has been a bright spot during the losing streak, averaging 22.0 points and 10.5 rebounds.

"You can't ask anymore from Al, Al played tremendous out there and Foye got it going in the fourth quarter," McHale said. "I thought there were some positives."

Making matters worse for Minnesota was a sprained right ankle suffered by starting guard Mike Miller. The team's third-leading scorer (10.7) and best 3-point threat, Miller is listed as day-to-day, but he missed four games earlier this month after spraining the same ankle.

With Miller on the sidelines, Rashad McCants played a season-high 39 minutes at shooting guard against Houston and scored 16 points - all in the first half.

The upcoming schedule probably won't do the Wolves any favors as they visit San Antonio and New York on Tuesday and Friday before hosting Southeast Division-leading Orlando on Saturday.

Minnesota is 0-2 this season against the Spurs and has dropped seven straight in the series. The Wolves have lost 12 of the past 13 overall meetings and eight in a row in San Antonio since a 100-93 victory on Jan. 14, 2004.

Tony Parker overcame a sloppy start to score 18 points as the Spurs (17-10) won their second straight, 101-85 over Sacramento on Monday.

"I did nothing to earn my money," Spurs coach Greg Popovich said. "They (the players) coached. They communicated. They changed defenses, called plays. I just substituted players."

Roger Mason scored 11 points in 18 minutes and Tim Duncan was held to a season-low 10 points as San Antonio won for the eighth time in 10 games.

The Spurs have won five straight at home and are 10-2 at the AT&T Center since losing their first three games there.

Parker scored a career-high 55 points in the Spurs' 129-125 double-overtime win at Minnesota on Nov. 5, then had 17 in a 98-86 victory there on Dec. 12.