Game Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. Washington Wizards

The San Antonio Spurs (1-0) will look to remain undefeated on Saturday night when they take on the Washington Wizards (1-1) in the second game of a three-game homestand to begin the 2019-20 campaign. The Wizards will be playing the second game of a back-to-back, as Washington defeated the Thunder in Oklahoma City on Friday night by a final score of 97-85. The Spurs beat the New York Knicks 120-111 on Wednesday.

Betting Lines: San Antonio Spurs vs. Washington Wizards

Vegas has the Spurs favored by 11.5 points. Considering the Spurs are at home, have an extra night of rest and the Wizards are playing their second road game in as many nights, betting on the Spurs to cover the spread looks like a relatively safe bet. San Antonio should be extra focused due to a difficult upcoming stretch, so they need this win to start the season off on the right foot.

As for the over/under, Vegas has it set at 217.5. The Wizards are only averaging 98.5 points in their two games. In the season opener, the Spurs went through dry spells on offense and struggled with turnovers. Going with the under looks like the better bet.

San Antonio Spurs Starting Lineup Watch

Four of San Antonio’s starters are set in stone: LaMarcus Aldridge, DeMar DeRozan, Dejounte Murray and Bryn Forbes. Against the Knicks, Trey Lyles got the start over Jakob Poeltl. Considering the Wizards start the athletic dynamo named Rui Hachimura at power forward, Poeltl is extremely unlikely to start and it’ll probably be Lyles once again.

However, don’t overlook DeMarre Carroll. While Carroll didn’t play in the opener, he’s the type of agile body the Spurs might need to combat Hachimura’s youth and exuberance. If Lyles doesn’t end up starting, it’ll probably be Carroll who steps in as a surprise starter.

Dejounte Murray Watch

To begin the 2019-20 season, Murray had a very good game, as he finished with 18 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals in 24 minutes. It was so good, in fact, that it makes his contract extension, which could be worth up to $70 million, look like a bargain.

Can he keep the hype train chugging along against the Wizards? He will definitely have a chance at putting together another strong game, as Washington doesn’t have many shot-blockers or perimeter defenders of note. If you’re playing fantasy basketball, the only thing to note regarding Murray’s value is he’s unlikely to play much more than half the game, as Derrick White is splitting the point guard minutes with him. 

San Antonio Spurs Injury Report

The Spurs are currently all healthy. And with extra rest since the last game and day off before the next game, no player should be on a minutes restriction. After last season that saw the Spurs struggle with injuries beginning in the preseason, this has been a pleasant change for San Antonio.