Spurs at Hornets
THE STORY: The San Antonio Spurs head to the Big Easy looking for an
answer to their two-game losing skid. The Spurs, knowing rougher roads
could be ahead, gave veteran forward Tim Duncan the night off Saturday,
losing 105-102 to the Houston Rockets. Saturday was San Antonio’s fourth
game in five nights, and coach Gregg Popovich wanted to give his
all-star a two-game hiatus before Monday’s game against the New Orleans
Hornets. New Orleans has lost seven straight games with the two most
recent defeats coming at the hands of Texas teams – Dallas and Houston.
The Hornets' offense can’t keep pace with star guard Eric Gordon on the
sidelines. They have topped the 90-point mark only once during their
slide. San Antonio has won seven of the last nine meetings, but the
Hornets defeated the Spurs 96-72 at home in their most recent meeting
last January.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (San Antonio), Cox Sports Television (New Orleans)
ABOUT THE SPURS (10-7):
With Duncan out of the lineup, San Antonio got an outstanding effort
from backup big man Tiago Splitter, who scored 25 points and grabbed 10
rebounds in just over 31 minutes. Splitter has been a key reserve for
the Spurs, scoring in double figures in three straight games while
averaging just under nine points. The second-year center out of Brazil
is shooting 62 percent from the field and will be priceless later in the
season when Duncan needs more time to rest.
ABOUT THE HORNETS (3-13):
The heat is on Hornets coach Monty Williams, but it’s tough to blame
the second-year mentor with the would-be franchise player on the
sideline. Gordon, who was traded to New Orleans from the Los Angeles
Clippers in the Chris Paul deal, has played in only two games for his
new team because of a bruised right knee. On top of that stress, the
Hornets have until Wednesday to offer Gordon a contract extension or
else he would become a free agent on July 1.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1.
New Orleans is expected to debut shooting guard Xavier Henry in
Monday’s game. Henry, who was acquired in a trade with the Memphis
Grizzlies, hasn’t played this season because of a torn ligament in his
ankle.
2. The Hornets’ 3-13 mark is the franchise's worst start
since 2004-05, when the team opened 1-14 en route to a franchise-worst
18-64 record.
3. San Antonio leads the all-time series with the Hornets (New Orleans/Charlotte) 41-20.