Spurs at Thunder
THE STORY: The top two teams in the Western Conference meet for the third and final time of the regular season when the Oklahoma City Thunder host the San Antonio Spurs on Friday. The teams split the first two meetings with each squad winning on its homecourt. Oklahoma City is 18-3 at home but has lost two of its last three home games. San Antonio is 11-9 on the road and is playing its first away game since Feb. 23.
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, FS Southwest (Spurs), FS Oklahoma City (Thunder), ESPN3.com
ABOUT THE SPURS (28-13): Veteran guard Manu Ginobili is having hip issues but came off the bench to score 14 points in 22 minutes in Wednesday’s victory over the Orlando Magic. Ginobili has only played in 14 games because of hand and oblique injuries and his conditioning has become an issue. Ginobili, who said he pushed too hard to make a quick return after the earlier injuries, is averaging only 12.7 points. “It’s his third attempt of getting through training camp is basically what it amounts to,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.
ABOUT THE THUNDER (33-10): Sixth man James Harden is averaging 22.4 points over the last five games. Harden scored 18 points in Thursday’s victory over the Denver Nuggets and knocked down four 3-pointers for the third time in the five-game stretch. Harden has twice scored 30 or more points during the span and is averaging 17.2 points. Harden is becoming a fearsome compliment to All-Stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Durant scored 24 points and Westbrook tallied 23 against Denver.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. San Antonio guard Tony Parker is averaging 23.0 points and 8.0 assists against Oklahoma City this season.
2. Durant is averaging 26.1 points in 16 career games against the Spurs.
3. San Antonio acquired guard/forward Stephen Jackson from the Golden State Warriors for forward Richard Jefferson and a conditional first-round draft pick.