Expectations, based on prior excellence, are always high for the San Antonio Spurs but it will be the revamped Minnesota Timberwolves that many fans will be hankering to watch when the two teams meet to open their NBA campaigns on Wednesday at the AT&T Center in San Antonio.

The Spurs will be without star forward Kawhi Leonard and venerable point guard Tony Parker, both due to quadriceps injuries. Parker suffered his injury in last season's playoffs and is targeting a November return to the court; Leonard did not practice or play during the preseason and his availability is yet to be determined.

Thanks to its always stifling defense, its pass-first offensive attack and the heavy but steady hand of 22-year veteran coach Gregg Popovich, San Antonio is still a force to be dealt with in the NBA.