Spurs at Trail Blazers
THE STORY: San Antonio has won an NBA season-best 11 consecutive games, including eight in a row on the road. The Spurs on Tuesday will try to continue the streak in Portland, which scored only seven points in the first quarter and lost to the Los Angeles Lakers 103-92. San Antonio’s Richard Jefferson made a 3-pointer with 6.5 seconds left as the Spurs got past Utah 106-102. The Blazers can try to take solace in the fact they have won eight of the last nine games against San Antonio and six in a row at the Rose Garden.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Spurs), CS Northwest (Trail Blazers)
ABOUT THE SPURS (23-9): If the Spurs are to continue their streak, they must do so without stars Manu Ginobili, who suffered a strained left oblique in Saturday's 103-100 victory at the Clippers, and Tiago Splitter (strained right calf), who is out two weeks. Jefferson didn’t score until 3:48 remained, but the two baskets he made were big. “I haven't shot the ball particularly well, haven't played particularly well lately,” Jefferson said. “You just have to be ready whenever you get the opportunity. It wasn't smooth sailing, even in the last few minutes, but I was able to knock them down.”
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (17-16): Portland scored a franchise-low seven first-quarter points against the Lakers, missing 20 of 22 field goals to fall behind 37-7. Nicolas Batum led the Blazers with 18 points, six rebounds, five assists and four blocks, but was at a loss for the terrible start. “The first quarter is maybe the worst quarter I have been part of in my NBA career,” Batum said. “We showed up with no energy, made no shots. The first quarter just killed us.”
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. San Antonio on Monday had three players – Tony Parker with 23, Tim Duncan and Matt Bonner with 20 apiece - score at least 20 points for the first time this season.
2. Portland center Greg Oden had his third microfracture surgery Monday and will miss the rest of the season again. Oden has not played since Dec. 5, 2009.
3. The Trail Blazers have not allowed San Antonio to reach 100 points since Dec. 2, 2007, 12 consecutive games.