Lakers at Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs' entire season has been overshadowed by injuries, and All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge recently added his name to that list. Aldridge is considered doubtful for Saturday, when the Spurs host the Los Angeles Lakers.
San Antonio had star small forward Kawhi Leonard (quad tendinopathy) available for only nine of the team's 62 games and there is still no timetable for his return, and Aldridge has been the backbone that is keeping the team in the Western Conference playoff race. Aldridge went down in the first half on Wednesday at home against New Orleans and watched the Spurs squander a 15-point lead in a 121-116 setback. "I think he'll be fine. I'm hoping he'll be fine," San Antonio forward Rudy Gay told ESPN of Aldridge. "We obviously need our big dog. He's a soldier. He'll play." The Spurs need all the support they can get against the Lakers, who are winners of four in a row and are averaging 122.8 points during that span.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles), FS Southwest (San Antonio)
ABOUT THE LAKERS (27-34): Los Angeles guard Isaiah Thomas enjoyed his best game since arriving at the trade deadline when he scored 11 of his team-high 29 points in the fourth quarter of a 131-113 win at Miami on Thursday. "I played most of the fourth," Thomas told reporters. "If I play I'm gonna produce. That's just who I am, that's who I always been. Injury is not gonna stop me from doing that. Coach is going to put this team in the best position to win and like I said, when my name is called I'm gonna be more than ready to take advantage of the opportunity." Thomas went 6-of-11 from 3-point range in the win, his best long-range effort of the season.
ABOUT THE SPURS (36-26): San Antonio dropped five of its last six games and is one of seven teams jumbled between the Nos. 3 and 9 spots in the Western Conference. The bright spot is the continued improvement of point guard Dejounte Murray, who collected 18 points, nine rebounds and five assists in Thursday's setback. The 21-year-old scored in double figures in each of his last seven games and averaged 12.1 points on 50 percent shooting, 6.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists in February.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Lakers SF Brandon Ingram (strained left hip flexor), who scored 26 points in Los Angeles' 93-81 home win over San Antonio on Jan. 11, is questionable for Saturday.
2. Spurs C Pau Gasol (knee) sat out Wednesday but returned to practice and is questionable for Friday.
3. Lakers SG Josh Hart is expected to miss up to six weeks following surgery to repair his broken hand.