Kings at Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are putting the heat on the Golden State Warriors and look to post their ninth consecutive victory when they host the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday. San Antonio is just 2 1/2 games behind first-place Golden State in the Western Conference and hosts the Warriors twice in March, the first time coming Saturday.
All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard is fueling the Spurs' hot stretch and he has been torrid over the past four games by averaging 33.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.3 steals. Leonard was the Western Conference Player of the Week for last week's efforts and then tallied 39 points and made a clutch lead-protecting block on Houston guard James Harden in Monday's 112-110 victory. Sacramento is fading since the trade of star center DeMarcus Cousins to New Orleans and lost its last five games. "I don't think fatigue had a lot to do with it," Kings point guard Darren Collison said after Monday's 108-96 road against the Denver Nuggets on the second end of a back-to-back. "We have to find a way to be mentally tougher."
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, CSN California (Sacramento), FSN Southwest (San Antonio)
ABOUT THE KINGS (25-38): Sacramento won its first game after dealing Cousins but now the losses are piling up as the squad is coming close to falling out of the competition for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West. After the visit to San Antonio, the Kings have a pivotal three-game homestand waiting in which victories will be required. "It's been tough, just trying to get used to each other," Kings point guard Ty Lawson said after the loss to Denver. "This is five games we've lost in a row? We've got to get another one soon."
ABOUT THE SPURS (49-13): Most observers have declared that the MVP race is between Harden and Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook, but Leonard continues to force his way into the conversation. He has solidified his reputation as the NBA's top two-way player with his increase in scoring -- he has 23 30-point outings -- and continues to amaze his teammates with his late-game heroics. "In clutch moments, he steps up his game," San Antonio center Pau Gasol told reporters. "He plays at a very high intensity and a very high level throughout the game, but in the clutch, down the stretch when the game is on the line when you're down three, he just makes great play after great play."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Spurs are 2-0 against the Kings this season and won the past eight meetings.
2. Sacramento backup SG Buddy Hield is averaging 13.2 points on 52.8 percent shooting in six games since being acquired from New Orleans.
3. San Antonio SG Danny Green is just 12-of-46 shooting over the past seven games.