Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers – Game #54
Derrick White and the Spurs will try to beat the Portland Trail Blazers (Photo via Twitter)
The San Antonio Spurs (26-27) will try to recover from a disappointing loss tonight when they host the Portland Trail Blazers (31-23) in the AT&T Center. The Spurs were defeated by a struggling Toronto Raptors team on Wednesday night, which was San Antonio’s final game of a five-game road trip. Back in South Texas for one game before a two-game road trip, the Spurs will try to solve their home issues.
So far this season, the Spurs are better on the road (14-10) than they are at home (12-17). The last time San Antonio played at home, they were blown out by the lowly Cleveland Cavaliers. In all, the Spurs have lost three straight games at home heading into tonight’s contest.
The Blazers are also not playing their best basketball. They’ve lost four of their last five games and five of their last seven games. Part of Portland’s problem has been a difficult schedule. Those five losses came against the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, Utah Jazz, Miami Heat and Boston Celtics, so their struggles are understandable.
San Antonio Spurs Injury Update
There’s some good news involving Gorgui Dieng. For tonight’s game against the Blazers, he has been upgraded to questionable. Dieng has been sidelined with a shoulder injury. If he’s able to go against Portland, expect him to replace Drew Eubanks in the rotation and get the backup center minutes behind Jakob Poeltl.
Trey Lyles remains out for tonight’s game with an ankle injury. He hurt his ankle during a practice session and there’s no timetable on his return.
LaMarcus Aldridge Retirement
LaMarcus Aldridge retired from the NBA yesterday. He cited a heart condition that caused him to move up his retirement date. After the Spurs bought him out, he had been playing for the Brooklyn Nets prior to this sudden decision.
When the Spurs take on the Blazers tonight, it will be a battle of the two teams that Aldridge played for before he joined the Nets.
New Look Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers still rely mostly on their star guards, Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. Lillard is averaging 28.7 points, 7.7 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game, while McCollum is averaging 23.2 points, 4.7 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game.
At the trade deadline, the Blazers acquired Norman Powell from the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Gary Trent Jr. Powell is now Portland’s most potent offensive threat outside of their starting guards. He’s averaging 16.7 points since being acquired from the Blazers.