Wizards at Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs seek to increase their home winning streak against the Washington Wizards to 20 when the teams square off Saturday. San Antonio hasn't dropped a home game against Washington since last century when the Wizards registered a 99-89 victory Dec. 11, 1999.
The Spurs opened their season with a 120-111 road win over the New York Knicks as forward LaMarcus Aldridge scored 22 points and shooting guard Bryn Forbes added 20. "The difference for us is, we did not turn it over in the fourth quarter," San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich told reporters of his team, which committed 21 over the first three quarters. "That was the ball game. You take care of the ball, you got a great chance to win." Center Thomas Bryant had 21 points and 11 rebounds for his second straight double-double as Washington notched a 97-85 road victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. "I told the guys that's why the fans are going to fall in love with our team - because we give a lot of incredible effort," Wizards coach Scott Brooks said afterward. "I mean, it's maximum effort every time on the court, and some of the time, you don't know what's going to happen."
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, NBCS Washington, KENS (San Antonio)
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (1-1): Washington was terrific down the stretch with a closing 14-2 run in Friday's victory to pull away in a contest that was tied with 4:27 remaining. Star shooting guard Bradley Beal was often off the mark with 7-of-22 shooting while scoring 17 points but rookie forward Rui Hachimura contributed 19 points and is averaging 16.5 points and 7.5 rebounds. "He's terrific," Brooks said of Hachimura. "He's a winning basketball player and does everything we ask in a high, high way."
ABOUT THE SPURS (1-0): Point guard Dejounte Murray missed all of last season with a torn ACL in his right knee but fared well against the Knicks with 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists. "I put in the work, but I've got a lot of work to do," Murray told reporters. "A year ago today I was at home, I couldn't walk, and a year later I'm playing. So I'm thankful." Murray, 23, signed a four-year, $64 million extension through the 2023-24 season earlier this week and San Antonio is expecting him to improve on his 2017-18 averages of 8.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Spurs averaged 130.5 points while beating the Wizards by 13 and 17 points last season.
2. Washington swingman Jordan McRae underwent surgery Friday to repair a fractured right ring finger that he injured against Dallas on Wednesday.
3. San Antonio G DeMar DeRozan was 3-of-10 shooting in the opener while scoring 13 points.