Spurs at Hawks
The San Antonio Spurs won back-to-back games without star small forward Kawhi Leonard in the lineup but are hoping he can recover from an illness in time to join the team for a road contest against the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday. The Hawks are trying to pull off a three-game homestand sweep after taking out the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons.
San Antonio trailed early in Portland on Friday before turning things around without their star, and coach Gregg Popovich was quick to credit the team's defense. "It's all, for any team that wants to win, it's all about the defense first, and then all the fundamentals of the game," Popvich told reporters. "We played good defense in the second half - 42 points. So, that's how we got back in the game." Atlanta is starting to play some tight defense as well and held the Knicks and the Pistons under 100 points while climbing above .500 (17-16). "I was really happy with the defense," Hawks coach and former San Antonio assistant Mike Budenholzer told reporters after Friday's win. "Twenty-nine assists. Those are the two things - we have to be good defensively and play unselfish offensively. ... It was just a good overall game for our group."
TV: 6 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest (San Antonio), FSN Southeast (Atlanta)
ABOUT THE SPURS (27-6): San Antonio is always playing with high expectations, and getting the most out of the team is a nightly battle for Popovich. "Sometimes I go crazy, sometimes I decide to just sit and let them figure it out, it just depends how I'm feeling or how I think the game might go or who's on the court at the time," Popovich told reporters. "(Friday), I wanted them to see what was going on for themselves, and they did a good job of it." That strategy continues to get the most out of veteran point guard Tony Parker, who is averaging 17 points over the last three games.
ABOUT THE HAWKS (17-16): Atlanta won seven of its last 11 games and is carrying some momentum into the New Year. “We wanted to finish this part of the season and head into the New Year right," center Dwight Howard told reporters after Friday's 105-98 triumph. "We got two good (home) wins and we’re hoping to get one more." Howard's return from a three-game absence is helping the team at both ends, and he is averaging 15.3 points and 16.3 rebounds in three games since his return.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Hawks PF Paul Millsap is 4-of-23 from 3-point range over the last five games.
2. Spurs SG Danny Green is 11-of-18 from beyond the arc in the last three contests.
3. San Antonio took the two meetings last season by a total of 45 points.