Spurs at Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans posted one of the biggest upsets of the early season when they beat the San Antonio Spurs last month and they’ll try for a repeat performance when they host the Spurs on Friday night. New Orleans forward Anthony Davis made a game-winning layup with 6.6 seconds left in the 100-99 victory Nov. 8, and he’s been hot lately, hitting the 30-point mark in three of the last five games. Davis learned Thursday he's one of four frontrunners in early the All Star ballot voting.
Spurs forward Tim Duncan gave San Antonio a scare when he limped off the floor with just over four minutes remaining Thursday against the Kevin Durant-less Oklahoma City Thunder, but he returned in the final minutes of the 114-106 loss. Duncan usually sits out the second game in back-to-backs and, coupled with the Spurs having played three overtime games in the last two weeks and a possible sore knee, there’s a good chance he sits out this game as well. That could mean increased playing time for Matt Bonner, who scored 17 points in Thursday’s loss to the Thunder, one off his season high.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest (San Antonio), FSN New Orleans
ABOUT THE SPURS (18-12): San Antonio was a minus-34 when Duncan was on the floor against the Thunder and Tony Parker was a minus-23 in his second game back after missing the previous five with a strained left hamstring. Parker has scored a season-high 28 points three times this season, the first time against the Pelicans. That’s the only loss in the eight games in which Parker has scored at least 20 points this season.
ABOUT THE PELICANS (14-14): Ryan Anderson is looking to bounce back after missing all six of his 3-point tries and scoring four points in Tuesday’s loss to the Indiana Pacers, which matched his season low from two other games this month. Anderson has been consistent so far this season, however, averaging 14.9 points in 13 games this month after averaging 14.9 in 14 games last month. Anderson has struggled from long range in 14 career games against the Spurs, connecting on 32.1 percent of his tries from beyond the arc.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Spurs are expected to be without starting F Kawhi Leonard, who’s nursing a torn ligament in his right hand.
2. Spurs G Manu Ginobili has reached double digits in assists in back-to-back games for the first time in his 13-year career.
3. San Antonio’s longest losing streak this season is four games, while the Pelicans’ is three.