Hawks at Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs will look to avoid consecutive losses for the first time this season when they host the Atlanta Hawks on Monday. San Antonio has lost two of three following an 11-game winning streak, including their first home loss of the season last time out in a 112-106 decision against Houston. Coach Gregg Popovich called it a teaching moment for his club, telling the San Antonio Express-News, "I think it's a good lesson for our guys. They got embarrassed for a whole half."
Atlanta has lost four of five after a 108-101 defeat in Washington on Saturday and is having an issue with falling way behind of late. On Friday night, the Hawks were able to erase a 17-point deficit to ultimately topple the Mavericks at home but after trailing by as many as 18 against the Wizards, Atlanta found the gap too big to bridge. Coach Mike Budenholzer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the coming-from-behind act shows character but is no recipe for success, saying, "Nope, that is a fact. I don't like falling behind by 17 or 18."
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Atlanta), FSN Southwest (San Antonio)
ABOUT THE HAWKS (9-9): Jeff Teague leads Atlanta, averaging 17.3 points but has struggled recently on the road, posting 11.5 points on just 30.2 percent shooting in his last four away from home. The Hawks have topped 100 points just once in their last eight games, after eclipsing the century mark in nine of their first 10 outings. Teague's 8.1 assists per game rank among the league's top 10.
ABOUT THE SPURS (14-3): San Antonio was 7-0 at home on the year before the setback against the Rockets and despite falling behind by as many as 23, they nearly squeaked that one out as well. Houston's 112 points was a season-high for a Spurs' opponent at home, as San Antonio had held its visitors to 89.3 at the AT&T Center in its previous seven home dates. Point guard Tony Parker, who returned against the Rockets after a one-game absence due to an ankle injury, scored a season-high 27 points and leads the Spurs with an 18.3 average.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Atlanta G Kyle Korver, who has pulled to within one game of Dana Barros' NBA record of consecutive games (89) with at least one 3-pointer, has missed three straight games with a bruised rib and is day-to-day.
2. San Antonio has not lost to the Hawks at home since Feb. 15, 1997, outscoring Atlanta by an average of 17.5 points in the last 15 games it has hosted in the series.
3. Budenholzer spent just shy of 20 years as part of the Spurs organization before assuming his role as Hawks coach this season.