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should be an easy win.
Oklahoma City (2-22) at San Antonio (14-8) Preview
Game info: 7:00 pm EST Sun Dec 14, 2008
TV: Home: FSN-Southwest
By Jeff Mezydlo
No matter the caliber of their opponent, the San Antonio Spurs are beating just about everybody these days.
Coming off a victory over the team with the second-worst record in the Western Conference, the Spurs try for their sixth consecutive win on Sunday night when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder, owners of the NBA’s worst mark.
San Antonio (14-8) won 98-86 at Minnesota on Friday for its 14th victory in 19 games since losing three straight to open the season.
“Usually it takes us a while,” said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, whose team is clicking with a healthy Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker in the lineup. “It usually takes us into March and April before we’re really ready to go. I think we’re on the right track for sure.”
San Antonio, which has won at perennial West powers Denver and Dallas during its current streak, looks to continue that run of success when it faces the Thunder (2-22) for the first time this season.
The Spurs have won seven of the last eight meetings with the team formerly known as the Seattle SuperSonics and have recorded six consecutive victories over them at the AT&T Center.
Tim Duncan had 17 points and 13 rebounds against Minnesota, Parker added 17 and nine assists and Ginobili scored 16 while the Spurs held an opponent to fewer than 100 points for 16th time in their last 18 games.
The Thunder franchise has scored more than 88 points just three times in their last eight contests against the Spurs.
Duncan is averaging 22.0 points and 12.6 rebounds in six December games. Ginobili, meanwhile, has scored 51 points on 18-of-31 shooting in his last two games against the Thunder franchise.
Oklahoma City opened a two-game Texas swing with a 103-99 loss at Dallas for its sixth consecutive defeat since winning at Memphis on Nov. 29.
Jeff Green scored 25 points and Kevin Durant added 22 for the Thunder, who led by a point after three quarters but were held to 19 in the fourth.
“We’re going to win some games,” said Thunder interim coach Scott Brooks, whose team blew a 21-point lead in a 108-102 loss to the Grizzlies on Wednesday. “We still have to just continue to get better and learn.”
Against Dallas, rookie Russell Westbrook finished with 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Thunder, who shot 46.0 percent from the field, but fell to 1-11 on the road.
“We played a solid basketball game,” said Oklahoma City reserve Desmond Mason, who had 12 points. “You can’t fault our effort.”
Durant, the team’s leading scorer at 22.9 points per game, had a career-high five steals but went scoreless in the final period. He averaged 23.7 points on 52.7 percent shooting in three games versus the Spurs as a rookie last season.
Notes
Thunder:
The SuperSonics finished with a 20-62 record, their worst in the 41-year history of the franchise. ... Rookie F Kevin Durant recorded a career-high 42 points and 13 rebounds on Wednesday, logging his first career double-double. The last opponent of the Warriors to score at least 40 points was Charlotte G Jason Richardson, who poured in 42 on March 5. ... Rookie F Jeff Green scored 27 points and had 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season and his fifth game with at least 20 points. ... G Earl Watson registered his seventh double-double of the campaign with 17 points and 12 assists. ... On Friday, NBA owners are scheduled to vote on owner Clay Bennett's proposed relocation of the Sonics. Bennett has insisted that the Sonics acquire a new, state-of-the-art venue in Seattle even though Key Arena was renovated just a decade ago.
Spurs:
In the last meeting between the Timberwolves and Spurs, G Tony Parker scored 55 points in a 129-125 double-overtime victory for San Antonio - his 55 were a Target Center high and a Wolves' opponent high. In that game, he also became the second person in NBA history to score 55 points, deal 10 assists, and grab five rebounds, the other person being Oscar Robertson on December 18, 1964. ... The Spurs have won six straight (four in a row at the Target Center) and 11 of the last 12 games against Minnesota. ... San Antonio has held 15 of its last 17 opponents under 100 points. ... F Matt Bonner leads the NBA in 3-point shooting at 51 percent (25-for-49).
Injuries
Oklahoma City
R. Swift Back
D. White Jaw
C. Wilcox Finger
San Antonio
No injuries reported.
Team Stat Leaders
Points
Kevin Durant OKC 23.0
Tony Parker SA 21.2
Rebounds
Robert Swift OKC 6.3
Tim Duncan SA 10.7
Assists
Earl Watson OKC 6.0
Tony Parker SA 6.6
Standings
Team Standings W L Pct. GB L 10 Strk
Oklahoma City 5th Northwest 2 21 .087 13.5 1-9 Lost 5
San Antonio 2nd Southwest 14 8 .636 0 8-2 Won 5
should be an easy win.
They almost beat the Mavericks today even when Dirk scored 46. Though we have a good chance beating them playing their Back to back, this will be the Spurs 3rd game in 4 days, don't expect a blowout.
No excuses not to win this one..
Who are the Mavs?
This game will be a massacre. The 3 point shooutout will come early for the likes of Mason and Bonner.
wrong team, but we should get this W for 6 in a row..
so the past couple of games, there haven't been any injuries reported in the game previews. is Mahinmi healthy now, or do they just not list him as injured?
This guy needs to check his facts!
Sunday: Thunder (2-22) at Spurs (14-8)
Time: 6 p.m.
TV: FSNSW
Radio: WOAI-AM 1200, KCOR-AM 1350
STARTING LINEUPS
POS - SPURS - THUNDER
PG - 9 Tony Parker (6-2, 8th yr) - 0 Russell Westbrook (6-3, 1st yr)
Parker showed he can take over in crunch time, scoring 16 fourth-quarter points Friday.
SG - 8 Roger Mason Jr. (6-5, 5th yr) - 21 Damien Wilkins (6-6, 5th yr)
Mason or Ginobili? Spurs flip a coin at shooting guard.
SF - 4 Michael Finley (6-7, 14th yr) - 35 Kevin Durant (6-9, 2nd yr)
Finley’s string of 14 straight starts second on team behind Duncan.
PF - 21 Tim Duncan (6-11, 12th yr) - 22 Jeff Green (6-9, 2nd yr)
Duncan has made at least half his shots in four of past five games.
C - 15 Matt Bonner (6-10, 5th yr) - 4 Nick Collison (6-10, 5th yr)
Collison likely beneficiary from Chris Wilcox’s dislocated finger.
SPURS RESERVES
12 Bruce Bowen, F, 6-7, 13th yr
20 Manu Ginobili, G, 6-6, 7th 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
THUNDER RESERVES
34 Desmond Mason, G, 6-5, 9th yr
25 Earl Watson, G, 6-1, 8th yr
7 Joe Smith, F, 6-10, 14th yr
31 Robert Swift, C, 7-1, 4th yr
5 Kyle Weaver, G, 6-6, 1st yr
27 Johan Petro, C, 7-0, 4th yr
18 Mouhamed Sene, C, 6-11, 3rd yr
COACHES
Spurs: Gregg Popovich
Thunder: Scott Brooks
INJURIES
Spurs: None.
Thunder: Chris Wilcox (dislocated left ring finger) is out.
PROJECTED INACTIVE PLAYERS
Spurs: Anthony Tolliver, Blake Ahearn, Ian Mahinmi
Thunder: Steven Hill, Robert Swift, D.J. White
NOTABLE
Spurs are looking to extend their season-high winning streak to six games. ... They have held 18 of their past 20 foes below 100 points. ... This is the teams’ first meeting since the Thunder — the former Sonics — moved from Seattle during the offseason.
- Jeff McDonald
He's been listed as 'Projected Inactive'.
I sure would want Bowen to start the game for this one so as to guard Kevin Durant.
KD will get his fair share of BB, I'm sure.
Spurs Team Report
Dec 13
Getting Inside
Tony Parker returned to the scene Friday of his greatest individual game. The Spurs point guard scored a career-high 55 points in a double-overtime win at Minnesota on Nov. 5.
Parker’s performance at the Target Center ranks as the highest-scoring game in that building. George Gervin and David Robinson are the only Spurs to score more in game. And factoring in Parker’s 10 assists and seven rebounds, he joined all-time great Oscar Robertson as the only two players ever to record a 55-10-5 game.
“After the game, I didn’t even realize it,” Parker said. “I was just happy we won the game and I had my career high. I didn’t know I had a record until the next day, when I saw it on the Internet and on the news.”
Parker leads the team in scoring, so big-scoring nights aren’t surprising. But a double-nickel?
“Tony’s a (heck) of a player,” Gregg Popovich said, “but I’m not sure we’re thinking 55 every night from him.”
That was the last healthy game out of Parker for a while. He sprained his ankle in San Antonio’s next game against Miami and missed nine games over three weeks.
Spurs 98, Wolves 86: San Antonio buckled down in the second half to defeat Minnesota on the road and notch its fifth consecutive win Friday night. The Spurs improved to 14-8.
Tim Duncan and Tony Parker led five Spurs in double-figures with 17 points. It marked Parker’s first game back at the Target Center since scoring a career-high 55.
San Antonio took control by outscoring the Wolves 25-16 in the third quarter to break a 41-41 halftime tie. Manu Ginobili added 16 points off the bench, while starters Michael Finley and Matt Bonner each scored 12.
Notes, Quotes
• Six Spurs are averaging in double-figures. C Matt Bonner is aiming to make it seven. San Antonio’s starting center for the last six games is averaging double-figures since his promotion. Bonner has taken over for C Fabricio Oberto and is helping Tim Duncan on the boards while knocking down three-pointers. In many ways, Bonner has filled the role Robert Horry once held.
“He’s a good complement to Timmy,” Gregg Popovich said. “He spreads the floor for us, like Robert used to do.”
Bonner grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds in Wednesday’s win over Atlanta.
“He’s a natural rebounder,” Popovich said. “He goes to the boards, all the time. You never have to get on him about it.”
• F Tim Duncan has 1,000 games in the books, combining the playoffs and the regular season. He hit the threshold Wednesday against Atlanta.
It wasn’t easy. Duncan logged 35 minutes against the Hawks after playing 50 minutes the previous night at Dallas. The Spurs won both.
“Timmy is a warrior,” Gregg Popovich said. “He doesn’t ever want me to take him out of the game at all. Every time I do, he says, ‘I’m fine. I’m ready to go.’ He’s just the base of everything we do.”
Quote To Note: “Usually, it takes us a while. It usually takes us into March and April before we’re really ready to go. I think we’re on the right track for sure.”—Gregg Popovich, after San Antonio’s fifth straight victory Wednesday.
Roster Report
Rotation:
Starters—Point guard Tony Parker, Shooting guard Roger Mason, Small forward Michael Finley, Power forward Tim Duncan, Center Matt Bonner.
Bench—Forward Kurt Thomas, Guard Manu Ginobili, Forward Bruce Bowen, Center Fabricio Oberto, Guard George Hill.
Player Notes:
• G Michael Finley caught fire in the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s win over Atlanta. He knocked down four shots in one three-and-a-half-minute stretch and finished with 15 points.
“I just wanted to be aggressive and attack the basket,” Finley said. “I wasn’t just looking to score, but to be aggressive, whether it was at the defensive end, denying catches and trying to rebound, or just giving us a little life, besides the scoring.
“The scoring was an added bonus, something we needed at the time, but I just wanted to help the team a little bit.”
• G Manu Ginobili reprised his sixth-man role Wednesday after starting the previous four games and responded with his best performance of the season. He scored 27 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, as San Antonio held off Atlanta.
“He loves games like that,” Tim Duncan said. “He loves to play in situations like that. It’s just great being able to give the ball to a guy like that and let him create moves and create shots.”
• F Tim Duncan is in line to make his 10th consecutive All-Star Game start. He leads all Western Conference forwards with 442,203 votes. The first returns were released Thursday. Duncan is once again listed at forward. A year ago, the All-Star balloting committee placed Duncan at center. The Spurs vehemently protested (he would have gone against Yao Ming at that position) and Duncan was eventually moved back to forward.
Medical Watch:
• C Ian Mahinmi (sprained left ankle) is out. He was recently recalled from a rehab assignment with the team’s D-League affiliate in Austin.
No surprises tomorrow please. Just take care of business and move on.San Antonio
No injuries reported.
Spurs should win, no excuses !!! Thunder should get bombarded and Spurs will win. It got to be that way...
Rookie F Kevin Durant recorded a career-high 42 points and 13 rebounds on Wednesday, logging his first career double-double.
I hope for Durant's sake that's a typo.
Damn, Hill already got one, that's bad. And I thought KD was all badass.
I hope for Durant's sake that's a typo.
Which is worse, blowing a 21-point lead because you slacked off, or blowing a 21-point lead when you're not slacking off?
Referee Assignments
Sun. Dec. 14
Oklahoma City @ San Antonio: S. Foster, K. Fehr, P. Robinson
Time: 6 p.m.
TV: FSNSW
Radio: WOAI-AM 1200, KCOR-AM 1350
STARTING LINEUPS
POS - SPURS - THUNDER
PG - 9 Tony Parker (6-2, 8th yr) - 0 Russell Westbrook (6-3, 1st yr)
Parker showed he can take over in crunch time, scoring 16 fourth-quarter points Friday.
SG - 8 Roger Mason Jr. (6-5, 5th yr) - 21 Damien Wilkins (6-6, 5th yr)
Mason or Ginobili? Spurs flip a coin at shooting guard.
SF - 4 Michael Finley (6-7, 14th yr) - 35 Kevin Durant (6-9, 2nd yr)
Finley’s string of 14 straight starts second on team behind Duncan.
PF - 21 Tim Duncan (6-11, 12th yr) - 22 Jeff Green (6-9, 2nd yr)
Duncan has made at least half his shots in four of past five games.
C - 15 Matt Bonner (6-10, 5th yr) - 4 Nick Collison (6-10, 5th yr)
Collison likely beneficiary from Chris Wilcox’s dislocated finger.
SPURS RESERVES
12 Bruce Bowen, F, 6-7, 13th yr
20 Manu Ginobili, G, 6-6, 7th 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
THUNDER RESERVES
34 Desmond Mason, G, 6-5, 9th yr
25 Earl Watson, G, 6-1, 8th yr
7 Joe Smith, F, 6-10, 14th yr
31 Robert Swift, C, 7-1, 4th yr
5 Kyle Weaver, G, 6-6, 1st yr
27 Johan Petro, C, 7-0, 4th yr
18 Mouhamed Sene, C, 6-11, 3rd yr
COACHES
Spurs: Gregg Popovich
Thunder: Scott Brooks
INJURIES
Spurs: None.
Thunder: Chris Wilcox (dislocated left ring finger) is out.
PROJECTED INACTIVE PLAYERS
Spurs: Anthony Tolliver, Blake Ahearn, Ian Mahinmi
Thunder: Steven Hill, Robert Swift, D.J. White
NOTABLE
Spurs are looking to extend their season-high winning streak to six games. ... They have held 18 of their past 20 foes below 100 points. ... This is the teams’ first meeting since the Thunder — the former Sonics — moved from Seattle during the offseason.
-Jeff McDonald
even McDonald can't get the lineups wrong...right?
-Mars
Spurs-Thunder Preview
By JEFF MEZYDLO, STATS Writer
No matter the caliber of their opponent, the San Antonio Spurs are beating just about everybody these days.
Coming off a victory over the team with the second-worst record in the Western Conference, the Spurs try for their sixth consecutive win on Sunday night when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder, owners of the NBA's worst mark.
San Antonio (14-8) won 98-86 at Minnesota on Friday for its 14th victory in 19 games since losing three straight to open the season.
"Usually it takes us a while,'' said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, whose team is clicking with a healthy Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker in the lineup. "It usually takes us into March and April before we're really ready to go. I think we're on the right track for sure.''
San Antonio, which has won at perennial West powers Denver and Dallas during its current streak, looks to continue that run of success when it faces the Thunder (2-22) for the first time this season.
The Spurs have won seven of the last eight meetings with the team formerly known as the Seattle SuperSonics and have recorded six consecutive victories over them at the AT&T Center.
Tim Duncan had 17 points and 13 rebounds against Minnesota, Parker added 17 and nine assists and Ginobili scored 16 while the Spurs held an opponent to fewer than 100 points for 16th time in their last 18 games.
The Thunder franchise has scored more than 88 points just three times in their last eight contests against the Spurs.
Duncan is averaging 22.0 points and 12.6 rebounds in six December games. Ginobili, meanwhile, has scored 51 points on 18-of-31 shooting in his last two games against the Thunder franchise.
Oklahoma City opened a two-game Texas swing with a 103-99 loss at Dallas for its sixth consecutive defeat since winning at Memphis on Nov. 29.
Jeff Green scored 25 points and Kevin Durant added 22 for the Thunder, who led by a point after three quarters but were held to 19 in the fourth.
"We're going to win some games," said Thunder interim coach Scott Brooks, whose team blew a 21-point lead in a 108-102 loss to the Grizzlies on Wednesday. "We still have to just continue to get better and learn.''
Against Dallas, rookie Russell Westbrook finished with 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Thunder, who shot 46.0 percent from the field, but fell to 1-11 on the road.
"We played a solid basketball game,'' said Oklahoma City reserve Desmond Mason, who had 12 points. "You can't fault our effort.''
Durant, the team's leading scorer at 22.9 points per game, had a career-high five steals but went scoreless in the final period. He averaged 23.7 points on 52.7 percent shooting in three games versus the Spurs as a rookie last season.
2-22
Thought I'd get the ball rolling for Duncan228, she's slacking today!
well, , guess I put my foot in my mouth, dont know why I didnt see her post before..... I swear I looked!
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