Pelicans at Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs attempt to keep their home unbeaten streak intact
when the New Orleans Pelicans come to town on Tuesday. San Antonio is
37-0 at home this season and has won 46 straight regular-season games
dating back to last season, the second-longest streak in NBA history.
All-Star small forward Kawhi Leonard (quadriceps) is still in recovery mode and is expected to miss his fourth consecutive game. "He's still hurting. He's healing," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said after Monday's 101-87 road win over the Memphis Grizzlies. "We didn't say if it would be fast or slow. He's healing." New Orleans is finishing a dismal season and won on Monday for the first time all season when scoring less than 100 points. The Pelicans lost their first 33 such encounters prior to the 99-91 home win over the New York Knicks.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FSN New Orleans, KENS (San Antonio)
ABOUT THE PELICANS (27-46): Point guard Jrue Holiday returned from a two-absence due to a toe injury to score 22 points against the Knicks but he was sporting a swollen right eye after the contest due to a collision with New York forward Kristaps Porzingis. Holiday was slated to have his orbital socket examined and forward Alonzo Gee (quadriceps) departed the contest in the third quarter as the club's injury woes continued. "I'm going to send out an all-points bulletin to anybody in the French Quarter or anywhere else; we need a voodoo doctor or something here," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters. "We've got to find the bones under this place or do something."
ABOUT THE SPURS (62-12): San Antonio has won nine of its last 11 games and continues to liberally rest players. Center Tim Duncan, point guard Tony Parker and shooting guard Manu Ginobili didn't travel on a two-game road trip to Oklahoma City and Memphis, while veteran forward David West didn't play against the Grizzlies. "It's all based on the schedule and how many minutes they've played," Popovich told reporters. "Three (games) in four nights. Back-to-backs. It doesn't matter who we are playing. That's not what we do with it. We don't pick games out."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Spurs are 2-1 against New Orleans this season but the Pelicans have won four of the past seven meetings.
2. San Antonio PF LaMarcus Aldridge had 31 points and 13 rebounds against Memphis and is averaging 31.5 points (on 23-of-32 shooting) and 12.5 rebounds over the past two games.
3. New Orleans SF Ryan Anderson (groin) is expected to miss his sixth straight game.