| NBA Basketball | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scoreboard | | | Postseason | | | Stats | | | Standings | | | Teams | | | Players | | | Player News | | | Injuries | | | Transactions | | | Home |
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hornets-Spurs Preview
New Orleans Hornets at San Antonio Spurs
- Over the last nine seasons, no team has had more success against the Hornets than the Spurs (27-8). At the same time, the Hornets won the last meeting between the teams (January 7), 95-88.
- The Spurs will be going for their 15th straight victory at home tonight. During the Tim Duncan era, the Spurs have had seven home win streaks of at least 15 games.
- The Hornets have scored more than 110 points in three of their last four games, after doing so just once over their previous 113 games.
- Ryan Anderson is coming off a game in which he hit seven three-pointers off the bench against the Kings. Anderson is one of just two players (Stephen Curry) who has hot at least seven three-pointers on three occasions this season.
- Rookie Anthony Davis has blocked multiple shots in each of his last four games -- tied for the third longest active streak in the NBA.
- The Spurs have gone 15-1 when Tony Parker has dished out at least eight assists this season.
By TAYLOR BECHTOLD
(AP) -- After sweeping a two-game trip to break out of their road funk, the San Antonio Spurs look to continue their dominance at home.
It may not be as easy as expected against the New Orleans Hornets, who have given the Spurs a tough time this season.
San Antonio will try for its 15th consecutive home win and sixth overall Wednesday night against a New Orleans team that could be without its franchise big man.
The Spurs (33-11) haven't lost in San Antonio in more than two months, running their streak to 14 with a 95-88 victory over Golden State on Friday. They improved to an NBA-best 18-2 on their home floor, winning there during the streak by an average of 16.0 points.
With a win over the last place Hornets (14-27), the Southwest Division leaders can move one step closer to the franchise record of 22 consecutive home wins set during the 2010-11 season.
The Spurs have won 15 of 17 at home against New Orleans, but victories in this season's series have been difficult to come by regardless of the venue. San Antonio has won two of three by a total of nine points, and lost 95-88 in New Orleans on Jan. 7.
San Antonio received mixed news regarding its injuries following Wednesday's shootaround. Manu Ginobili - sidelined the last four games with a strained left hamstring - is expected to play, but Tim Duncan and swingman Kawhi Leonard have been ruled out due to injuries.
Ginobili has totaled 34 points and 11 assists in just 49 minutes over two games versus New Orleans this season.
The Hornets, however, have their own injury scare to deal with after Anthony Davis hurt his left ankle and sat out the second half of a 114-105 win over Sacramento on Monday.
"I landed on (a) foot and rolled it," Davis said. "Pretty sure I should be back. It's fine."
Davis, who missed 11 games earlier this season due to a stress fracture in the same ankle, will be a game-time decision. It would be a big loss considering the No. 1 overall pick has averaged 18.7 points and 9.0 rebounds against the Spurs.
After a 7-25 start, New Orleans has won seven of nine - including three of its last four on the road.
That surge has coincided with the return of Eric Gordon, who has averaged a team-high 17.4 points since debuting after offseason knee surgery. Gordon had 24 to lead the Hornets past the Spurs earlier this month.
New Orleans has averaged 106.8 points and shot 33 of 84 (39.3 percent) from beyond the arc in their last four, but is likely to have a tougher time against the Spurs.
San Antonio has limited the Hornets to 11 of 46 (23.9 percent) shooting from 3-point range this season. Ryan Anderson, who's hit an NBA-high 125 3-pointers, is 6 of 18 against the Spurs while averaging just 12.0 points.
Duncan had 24 points and 17 rebounds and Tony Parker added 20 points as the Spurs closed on a 15-3 run to win their fifth straight, 90-85 at Philadelphia on Monday.
"When you've been playing a long time, and you have a great coach, you know what to do," Parker said.
Parker had 25 points to lead the Spurs to a 99-94 victory on Dec. 21 in the most recent home meeting with the Hornets.
While the Spurs rank near the top of the NBA in scoring (104.0) and 3-point percentage (38.2), they've averaged just 95.3 points and shot 16 for 59 (27.1 percent) from beyond the arc against the Hornets.
Updated January 23, 2013
© 2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press.Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
