Spurs At Hawks Previews

[duncan228]

Wednesday: Spurs (46-24) at Hawks (42-29) (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Wednesday_Spurs_46-24_at_Hawks_42-29.html)
Express-News

Time: 6 p.m. today
TV: FSNSW
Radio: WOAI-AM 1200, KCOR-AM 1350

STARTING LINEUPS
POS - SPURS - HAWKS

PG 9 Tony Parker (6-2, 8th yr) - 10 Mike Bibby (6-1, 11th yr)
Parker’s average up by nearly five points with Ginobili out of the lineup.

SG- 8 Roger Mason Jr. (6-5, 5th yr) - 2 Joe Johnson (6-7, 8th yr)
Johnson averaging 26.8 points in past eight games, including four 30-point efforts.

SF - 4 Michael Finley (6-7, 14th yr) - 1 Maurice Evans (6-5, 6th yr)
Marvin Williams’ sore back has meant a starting gig for Evans.

PF 21 Tim Duncan (6-11, 12th yr) - 5 Josh Smith (6-9, 5th yr)
Wouldn’t be surprising to see Duncan take off the second night of back-to-back.

C - 15 Matt Bonner (6-10, 5th yr) - 15 Al Horford (6-10, 2nd yr)
Bonner has only one double-digit scoring game since Drew Gooden’s debut.

SPURS RESERVES

12 Bruce Bowen, F, 6-7, 13th yr
90 Drew Gooden, F, 6-10, 8th yr
3 George Hill, G, 6-2, 1st yr
7 Fabricio Oberto, C/F, 6-10, 4th yr
40 Kurt Thomas, C/F, 6-9, 14th yr
5 Ime Udoka, G/F, 6-5, 5th yr
11 Jacque Vaughn, G, 6-1, 12th yr

HAWKS RESERVES

3 Thomas Gardner, G/F, 6-5, 2nd yr
44 Solomon Jones, C/F, 6-10, 3rd yr
4 Acie Law, G, 6-3, 2nd yr
33 Randolph Morris, C, 6-11, 3rd yr
22 Flip Murray, G, 6-3, 7th yr
27 Zaza Pachulia, C, 6-11, 6th yr
6 Mario West, G/F, 6-5, 2nd yr

COACHES

Spurs: Gregg Popovich
Hawks: Mike Woodson

INJURIES

Spurs: Ian Mahinmi (right ankle surgery) and Manu Ginobili (stress reaction, right ankle) are out.

Hawks: Speedy Claxton (left knee) and Marvin Williams (low back pain) are out. Law (low back pain) is day-to-day.

PROJECTED INACTIVE PLAYERS

Spurs: Ginobili, Mahinmi, Malik Hairston.

Hawks: Claxton, Williams, Othello Hunter.

NOTABLE

Hawks have won eight of their past nine, moving to fourth in the Eastern Conference. Included in that stretch was a seven-game winning streak that was Atlanta’s longest since April 1999. ..... Hawks have lost just twice at home since beginning of February. ..... Spurs are 10-5 this season on second night of a back-to-back, with all five losses coming on the road.

- Jeff McDonald

[Spursfan092120]

Manu's not going to be back for the game??

[duncan228]

Manu's not going to be back for the game??

Haven't heard anything for sure. The line ups here are probable, the final is turned in close to game time.

[crc21209]

Manu's not going to be back for the game??

Yeah this is just a simple preview write up for the game. Nothing will be certain until tomorrow. Even Pop said that Manu may see action tomorrow, or Friday. I'm thinking tomorrow though.

[NRHector]

well thanks for the preview,you are good:toast

[Brutalis]

This would be a great win.

[VI_Massive]

Odds on Timmy sitting?

[duncan228]

Odds on Timmy sitting?

I'd say pretty good.

I'm hoping Duncan feels good after tonight, maybe that will let Pop play him limited minutes.

But, this is Pop. And he hinted at sitting Duncan on the remaining back-to-backs. I doubt we see Duncan.

My main concern is that Duncan feels good and doesn't hurt worse after tonight. We need him at his Playoff best and there's only a few weeks to get him there.

[MrChug]

I'm pretty worried.

[Spursfan092120]

Haven't heard anything for sure. The line ups here are probable, the final is turned in close to game time.
Gotcha..thanks for the preview..always love readin em. :)

[duncan228]

San Antonio (46-24) at Atlanta (42-29) Preview (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2009032501&prov=ap)
Game info: 7:00 pm EDT Wed Mar 25, 2009
TV: FSSW, FSS
By Matt Beardmore

San Antonio finally won a close game. Now the Spurs will see if they can maintain the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference standings.

After closing out its homestand with a much-needed win, San Antonio travels to Atlanta on Wednesday night to face a playoff-hungry Hawks team looking to extend its season-high winning streak at Philips Arena.

Tuesday’s 107-106 victory over the Golden State Warriors was a welcome change for San Antonio (46-24), which had dropped three of four by seven total points.

“Definitely a relief,” said Roger Mason, who made an 18-footer with 23.9 seconds remaining to help snap the Spurs’ two-game skid. “Those last few games stung.”

San Antonio, which avoided its first three-game slide since an 0-3 start, lost its Southwest Division lead with Sunday’s 87-85 defeat to Houston, but regained it by a half-game later Tuesday night as the Rockets fell 99-86 at Utah.

“We’re obviously going through a rough patch,” said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, whose team improved to 17-10 in games decided by five or fewer points.

Tim Duncan scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as San Antonio capped its 2-2 homestand. The veteran forward has posted two consecutive double-doubles against the Hawks, including 19 points and 11 boards in a 95-89 win on Dec. 10.

Duncan, though, could get the night off in preparation for the playoffs.

Tony Parker had just six points on 3-of-13 shooting in the December victory. Now the star point guard looks for his third straight double-double after averaging 26.0 points and 11.0 assists in his last two games.

In the Spurs’ last game in Atlanta, Parker had a game-high 31 points and nine assists en route to a 95-83 win on Nov. 20, 2007.

The Hawks, though, have been one of the league’s best home teams this season with a 28-7 mark. Should it win its ninth straight at Philips Arena on Wednesday, Atlanta (42-29) also would trim its magic number for a playoff berth to one.

Atlanta is well behind Cleveland, Boston and Orlando in the East standings, yet has clinched its first winning season since going 31-19 in the lockout-shortened 1998-99 campaign.

Flip Murray has been a major contributor off the bench as the Hawks have won eight of nine overall. Atlanta’s sixth man is averaging 23.7 points on 56.5 percent shooting in his last three games, despite playing less than 29 minutes per game during this stretch.

“He’s been big all year coming off the bench,” Joe Johnson said of Murray, who scored a season-high 30 in Monday’s 109-97 win over Minnesota.

Murray had 17 points in the loss to San Antonio earlier this season.

Johnson, who scored 29 in that defeat, has been on the winning side against the Spurs just once in his four seasons with Atlanta - a 94-84 home victory on Dec. 10, 2005.

Johnson, though, remains confident the Hawks can maintain their home-court dominance against the Spurs, Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, who close out their four-game homestand.

“It’s going to be a big stretch, man, but I feel good about our chances here at home,” he said. “We’ve just got to come prepared and play our hearts out every night because it’s going to be tough.”

San Antonio has won five in a row against the Hawks, including two straight in Atlanta.

Notes

Spurs:

G Tony Parker scored 30 points to pace the Spurs. ... Kurt Thomas, an 86 percent foul shooter, missed a pair from the line in the final 10 seconds but Golden State's last gasp went awry as Warriors G Monta Ellis missed a running, 3-point shot. ... G Roger Mason scored 24 points, including critical hoop with less than 30 seconds left to put San Antonio ahead for good. ...

Hawks:

Atlanta G Acie Law missed his second straight game due to pain in his lower back. The Hawks beat Minnesota 94-86 in their only other meeting this season and have won six in a row over the Timberwolves.

Team Stat Leaders

Points

Tony Parker SA 21.4
Joe Johnson Atl 21.6

Rebounds

Tim Duncan SA 10.6
Al Horford Atl 9.2

Assists

Tony Parker SA 6.8
Joe Johnson Atl 5.9

Team Comparison
Team Record Standings PF PA Road/Home Streak L10

San Antonio 46-24 1st Southwest / 2nd West 96.7 93.0 Road 21-13 Won 1 6-4

Atlanta 42-29 2nd Southeast / 4th East 98.5 96.3 Home 28-7 Won 1 8-2

[Ditty]

please tim play at least 20 minutes

[tomtom]

Man if Spurs had a hard time with Goldenstates athleticism, Hawks are gonna be extremly tough especially if Tim is sitting out

[Manufan909]

Hope Timmy and Manu both make it, I more or less promised my gf it was a sure thing, for Manu to come back anyways.

[Manu-of-steel]

we will need bruce to step up on defense against joe johnson. hope pop will trust hill to guard murray, that would be a good match up.

[Bukefal]

TD should not be playing, but i do hope manu will return tonight. Go spurs! We need every of these last few games to win!!!

[Agloco]

Unless Finley and Bowen do something besides contributing donuts to the stat sheet, we get owned in a big way.

I only expect to see Timmy late in the game if it's still close.

[Thomas82]

Odds on Timmy sitting?

I think he'll play limited minutes if we get Manu back tonight.

[BigVee]

This will be ugly.

[Chieflion]

Please just win. I posted it twice and both times we won so I am just going to post this again.

[VI_Massive]

Manu's facebook status says he's probably going to play tonight.......

[Chomag]

Unless Finley and Bowen do something besides contributing donuts to the stat sheet, we get owned in a big way.

I only expect to see Timmy late in the game if it's still close.

Finley will get 25+ minutes regardless if he doesn't. You know that :lol

[shelshor]

Referee Assignments
Wed. Mar. 25
San Antonio @ Atlanta: B. Delaney, J. Nies, G. Zielinski

[Spursmania]

Insert Atlanta Hawks boot into San Antonio's scrotum tomorrow.

Ouch!:wow

[Spursmania]

Finley will get 25+ minutes regardless if he doesn't. You know that :lol

Yes, I don't understand Pop. It's driving me nuts!:wakeup

[Keepin' it real]

I was expecting the normal 7:30 tip. Thanks. You saved me a few expletives.

[Don Quixote]

Yeah, I wouldn't put all my v-bookie dollars on the Spurs winning this one.

In fact ... I'd put $1000 on Atlanta tonight.

[duncan228]

San Antonio Spurs (46-24) at Atlanta Hawks (42-29), 7 p.m. EST (http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=nba/scores/live/preview.aspx?id=11090)

(Sports Network) - The San Antonio Spurs took back the lead in the Southwest Division last night and will try to hold that spot Wednesday on the road against the home-tested Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena.

San Antonio entered Tuesday's game versus Golden State just a half game behind the Houston Rockets in the division standings, then handed the Warriors a 107-106 defeat in the finale of a four-game homestand at the AT&T Center. Roger Mason buried a jump shot with 23.8 seconds remaining to give San Antonio its 22nd consecutive home win versus Golden State.

Mason ended with 24 points, while Tony Parker led the way with 30 points and a game-best 10 assists. Tim Duncan notched a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs, who moved back into first place in the Southwest after the Rockets lost at Utah. New Orleans is 1 1/2 games off the pace. San Antonio, which went 2-2 on the homestand, is second in the Western Conference standings, just a half game ahead of Houston.

The Spurs will put their 21-13 road record on the line this evening. Duncan (knees/rest) and guard Manu Ginobili (ankle) are both questionable for tonight's game. Ginobili hasn't played since February 11 at Toronto.

Meanwhile, the Hawks have won eight in a row as the host and will resume a four-game homestand Wednesday versus the Spurs. They rebounded from Saturday's loss at Cleveland by opening the residency with a 109-97 victory over Minnesota, as Flip Murray finished with a season-high 30 points in the win.

Mike Bibby contributed 20 points and nine assists, while Joe Johnson recorded 20 points and eight rebounds for Atlanta, which has won eight of its last nine games -- all at home. Maurice Evans added 10 points and Al Horford chipped in 12 points and 13 rebounds in a winning cause.

Atlanta will also welcome the Celtics and Lakers to town and owns a 28-7 mark at home team this season. Hawks guard Acie Law is expected to miss Wednesday's game because of lower back spasms.

San Antonio won the first meeting with Atlanta, 95-89, on December 10 this season at the AT&T Center. A then-healthy Ginobili poured in 27 points to lead the Spurs, who posted their 11th straight win over Atlanta at home.

The Spurs have won five straight and 17 of the last 20 meetings with Atlanta. These two teams have split the last six meetings at Philips Arena.

[superbigtime]

Barring a miracle, I don't see how this could be a win.

[Mal]

No Timmy ? Limited Manu ? Full time Finley ? Most important game for Gooden ?

[poop]

Gooden wont play more than 8 minutes like usual. he hasnt been doing much anyway besides turning it over. i fear a bloodbath tonight.

[Spursmania]

Come on Spurs, we need some momentum here. I hope Manu plays at least 15 minutes.

[de Soto]

The Spurs could receive a real asskicking by Atlanta unless they improve their game significantly. GS is a shit team and it was awfully close game.

[Spurs Brazil]

Referee Assignments
Wed. Mar. 25
San Antonio @ Atlanta: B. Delaney, J. Nies, G. Zielinski


Great, another ref who doenst like TD

[superbigtime]

Really without Tim playing 20 - 30 there's no chance against Hawks. Pop may pull a Denver here. Should be fantastic for team chemistry. Thanks Pop!

[poop]

Barring a miracle, I don't see how this could be a win.

my lord who is that in your sig, jesus christ thats perfect.

[sananspursfan21]

now would be a great time to break in drew gooden

[crc21209]

Great, another ref who doenst like TD

Can't mess with TD tonight since he's not playing.

[sananspursfan21]

Gooden! Gooden! Gooden! Gooden!