Preview: San Antonio Spurs at Washington Wizards – Game #74
Sandro Mamukelashvili and the Spurs will try to rebound against the Wizards (Photo via Twitter)
After a ten-game stretch in which the San Antonio Spurs went 5-5, the Silver and Black has struggled massively in their last two contests. The Spurs have lost those two games by a combined 71 points. On Friday night, San Antonio plays on the road against the Washington Wizards and will look to get back on track.
The Wizards have dealt with their own struggles lately. In their last eight games, Washington has only one win. That lone victory was against the Detroit Pistons, the team with the worst record in the NBA.
This is the second and final game between the Spurs and the Wizards. In the first matchup, the Wizards dominated the Spurs and won by a final score of 127-106.
At 19-54, the Spurs have the third worst record in the league. At 32-41, the Wizards are the 12th seed in the Eastern Conference. Washington trails the 10th seeded Chicago Bulls by 2.5 games, so they’ll need to start playing better and stringing together wins in order to make it into the play-in tournament.
San Antonio Spurs Injury Update
The injury situation for the Spurs is still complicated. Jeremy Sochan is out due to right knee soreness. Romeo Langford is out with left adductor soreness.
Two starters are listed as questionable against the Wizards: Devin Vassell and Zach Collins. Vassell is iffy due to left knee injury management, while Collins has a right biceps contusion.
Four key players are listed as probable: Keldon Johnson, Tre Jones, Doug McDermott and Devonte’ Graham. Johnson has a neck sprain, Jones has left foot soreness, McDermott has a right hip contusion and Graham has right quad soreness.
Washington Wizards Injury Update
The Wizards will be without two key players: Bradley Beal and Kyle Kuzma. Beal is Washington’s leading scorer. On the season, he’s averaging 23.2 points, 5.4 assists and 3.9 rebounds. Kuzma has also been really good this season. He’s averaging 21.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.
San Antonio Spurs Injury Update
Unfortunately, all five starters for the Spurs are on the injury report. Expect Keita Bates-Diop to start in Jeremy Sochan’s place. At center, expect Sandro Mamukelashvili to start if Zach Collins can’t play. At shooting guard, expect Malaki Branham to start if Devin Vassell sits.
Assuming the players listed as probable will play, expect the final two starters to be Keldon Johnson and Tre Jones.
Betting Guide: Spurs at Wizards
The Wizards are favored by seven points. While Washington will be without two of their three best players, the smart money is on the Wizards to win by eight or more points. Kristaps Prozingis is playing well and should be able to carry the load. The Wizards are still in the playoff race so they’ll be motivated to get a victory.
The Spurs are really struggling and their injury situation has made it really hard for the team to get in a groove. Add in the fact that the Wizards will be at home and Washington should be able to handily beat the Spurs.