Spurs at Clippers
THE STORY: Two teams expected to be in the mix for the Western Conference title do battle in Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon when the San Antonio Spurs visit the Clippers. The Spurs are red-hot, having won nine consecutive games to rise to the top of the conference. They've been virtually unbeatable on their home floor and have extended that dominance to the road, winning five straight away from San Antonio. The Clippers are coming off an error-filled 74-71 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. San Antonio romped to a 25-point victory in their only previous meeting this season.
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Southwest, Fox Sports Prime Time
ABOUT THE SPURS (21-9): Having built some momentum heading into the beginning of their grueling nine-game rodeo road trip, San Antonio has rolled through the first half of the trek, opening with a win over Memphis before rolling past four straight Eastern Conference foes. The Spurs shot nearly 54 percent from the field en route to a 113-106 win over the Toronto Raptors last time out. That's without much from swingman Manu Ginobili, who is averaging just 6.7 points in three games since returning from a broken bone in his hand.
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (19-9): Los Angeles needed a big fourth quarter to avoid a seventh consecutive loss in Portland, rallying to beat the Trail Blazers despite getting a 13-for-42 performance from the backcourt trio of Chris Paul, Mo Williams and Randy Foye. Paul's constant misfires in the opening 24 minutes contributed to the Clippers scoring a season-low 32 first-half points. "We played terrible in the first half," he said. "On the road you just have to keep it close, and we gave ourselves an opportunity."
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. San Antonio won three of four meetings between the clubs last season.
2. Paul had zero points through three quarters vs. Portland before scoring 13 in the fourth quarter.