(Sports Network) - Opposing teams usually remember the Alamo City for the
beating they took at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs, who target their 14th
straight win as the host Friday night versus the Golden State Warriors.
The Spurs are arguably the best team on their own floor and have ripped off 13
wins in a row at the AT&T Center, where they are 17-2 and haven't lost since
Nov. 19 versus Oklahoma City.
Golden State has lost 27 straight at San Antonio, last winning there in a
108-94 decision on Feb. 14, 1997. The Warriors haven't defeated the Spurs in
any capacity since January 7, 2008 -- a 130-121 overtime win in Oakland.
Friday's matchup between the Warriors and Spurs is the first of four this
season. San Antonio went 3-0 in this series a season ago and has won 15
straight and 25 of the last 28 meetings between the teams.
San Antonio will close out a three-game homestand Friday and is coming off a
103-82 beating of the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. Tim Duncan had 19
points, eight rebounds, five blocks and four assists, while Tony Parker
delivered 17 points and 11 assists in the win, the Spurs' 11th in 14 tries.
"It's the best we've played in two weeks," said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.
"We've had a kind of a tough time putting it all together in the last couple
of weeks for whatever reason. They've worked hard the last three, four, five
days...both with film and practice, that kind of thing."
Popovich's team is 12-1 at home versus Western Conference foes and will begin
a two-game road trip Saturday at Atlanta, before a visit to Philadelphia
Monday night.
The Spurs, of course, are without guard Manu Ginobili for the next one to two
weeks because of a strained left hamstring.
Golden State has dropped two in a row and four of five games, and will play
two straight and six of the next eight games on the road.
The Warriors were clobbered by the Miami Heat, 92-75, on Wednesday and LeBron
James became the youngest player to reach 20,000 career points with 25 and 10
assists. Jarrett Jack netted 16 points to pace Golden State, which got 12
points and 11 boards from David Lee. The Warriors upset the Heat, 97-95, in
Miami on Dec. 12.
"Disappointing, but we faced a team that remembered what took place in South
Beach and came with a mindset to make a point, individually and collectively,"
Warriors coach Mark Jackson told NBA.com.
Golden State, which has lost two straight just three times this season and
hasn't dropped three in a row since an eight-game slide last April, did not
have point guard Stephen Curry due to an injured right ankle. Curry leads the
team with 20.5 points and 6.6 assists, and is doubtful Friday.
The Warriors will visit New Orleans Saturday and are 11-8 as the guest.
The Sports Network