Preview and Prediction: San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Lakers

The San Antonio Spurs (6-11) play the Los Angeles Lakers (14-2) on Monday night in the AT&T Center. The Spurs snapped their eight-game losing streak by beating the New York Knicks on Saturday, while the Lakers defeated the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday to extend their winning streak to seven games.

In a battle of two teams streaking in opposite directions, the Lakers have the best record in the NBA, while the Spurs are tied for tenth in the Western Conference.

San Antonio Spurs Injury News

Dejounte Murray missed the Knicks game but he will be back in the lineup tonight against the Lakers. Murray only sat because it was the second night of a back-to-back.

Derrick White didn’t look healthy in the game in New York after he missed two games with a sore left foot. However, all indications point to him playing against the Lakers.

Los Angeles Lakers Injury News

Anthony Davis is listed as probable with a bothersome shoulder, however he’s expected to play. Alex Caruso is also listed as probable but it’s unlikely that he will sit out tonight’s game.

Avery Bradley, who played in the first meeting this year between the Spurs and the Lakers, is out due to a hairline fracture in his right leg.

San Antonio Spurs Starting Lineup

DeMar DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge and Bryn Forbes will surely start. Jakob Poeltl is also highly likely to get the nod at center.

The biggest question mark in the starting lineup for the Spurs is at point guard. In the last three games, Murray, White and Patty Mills have each started at point guard. Murray is most likely to get the starting nod — but Gregg Popovich could go back to Mills or even White.

Los Angeles Lakers Starting Lineup

LeBron James, Anthony Davis, JaVale McGee and Danny Green will start for the Lakers. With Bradley out, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will likely be the fifth starter. The only other player who has started a game for the Lakers this season is Kyle Kuzma, who has started only one game.

Spurs vs. Lakers – Key Matchup

How will the Spurs defend LeBron James? To begin with, that job will likely fall to DeMar DeRozan. As the game progresses, don’t be surprised to see DeMarre Carroll get a chance to show what he could do. He hasn’t played much this year for San Antonio but has done well and has provided a defensive spark over the last few games.

Spurs vs. Lakers – Prediction

The prognosticators have the Lakers beating the Spurs by five points, 114-109. While the Spurs are right to be the underdogs, San Antonio is a desperate team who will be thrilled to be back home after a four-game road trip. I’m predicting a momentous win for the home team.

San Antonio Spurs – 121
Los Angeles Lakers – 117