Mavericks at Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs look to start another streak after a surprising loss when they return home to host the Lone Star State rival Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night. The Spurs got injured leading scorer Kawhi Leonard and point guard Tony Parker back in the lineup, but saw a five-game winning streak come to an end with a 119-103 loss at New Orleans on Friday.
“Couldn’t make shots,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich told reporters after his team was outscored 71-46 in the second half Friday. “Shoot 38 percent on the road it’s hard to win. We hung in there in the first half, but we just ran out of gas.” Leonard posted 23 points after missing the previous two contests with a hand injury, ending a streak of six games in which he scored at least 30. The Spurs will be facing an injury-depleted Dallas squad that has been holding its own after a demoralizing 4-17 start to the season. The Mavericks have won five of their last eight contests despite a 109-98 setback at Oklahoma City on Thursday without four of their top five scorers.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (16-30): Future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki will likely be back in the lineup after resting against Oklahoma City and is coming off a 19-point effort in a win over the New York Knicks on Wednesday in which he drained 8-of-12 from the field. Leading scorer Harrison Barnes (20.4) poured in 31 points on Thursday – tied for his second-best output in his first season with Dallas. Second-leading scorer Wesley Matthews (15.0) missed the last two games with a hip injury and could return Sunday while Deron Williams (13.5) sat out Thursday with a toe sprain and remains questionable.
ABOUT THE SPURS (36-10): Point guard Tony Parker (foot) scored just seven on 2-of-7 shooting from the field after missing the previous four contests - ending a strong four-game stretch in which he averaged 13.8 points and five assists. LaMarcus Aldridge, who is second on the team in scoring (17.5), notched his ninth double-double of the season with 14 points and 14 rebounds against New Orleans. David Lee has gotten more playing time with Pau Gasol (finger) out and is taking advantage while averaging 12.6 points and posting three double-doubles in the last five contests.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Spurs have won the last seven meetings, including a pair this season by a total of 12 points.
2. Dallas waived G Pierre Jackson on Saturday and signed G Yogi Ferrell to a 10-day contract.
3. San Antonio F David Bertans has drained 13-of-20 shots from the field while averaging 13.3 points the last three contests.